Ingrid’s battle against ALS

Hello everyone, as some of you may or may not know, our mother Ingrid, was recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis more commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. This was a complete surprise for all of us and completely random. She was diagnosed in August of 2022 but has been experiencing symptoms since the end of 2021. We have decided to create a GoFundMe to cover costs that insurance may not cover. There are many devices and necessities to care for a person with ALS. This GoFundMe is being managed by her daughters Hillary Godinez, Melany Godinez, and her husband Jose Godinez.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is a terminal disease with no known cure. ALS affects a persons basic tasks such as speaking, walking, eating, and even more. This is a fast progressing disease and in the case of our mothers it has progressed rapidly. She currently cannot walk far distances and utilizes a manual wheelchair, she needs help getting up and out of bed, she needs to be fed, and cannot use her hands because of the weakness.

ALS is an extremely expensive disease to treat since there is not much research on it. It is incredibly rare only affecting 1 per 100,000 yearly in the US. Costs may range between $100,000 or more.

Since there is no treatment for ALS the best thing we can do is to improve and give her the best quality of life. The timeline for ALS after diagnosis is 2-5 years, but every case is different.

We plan to use these donations to pay for costs that insurance will not cover. We are a low income family and therefore do not have the funds to provide the best care. We are currently living in an apartment in Queens, NYC and have very limited space. We ask of these donations to be able to provide for a better life for our mother through her battle with ALS.

As many of you know Ingrid has been a loving mother, wife, aunt, sister, neighbor, and friend. She has always provided for everyone before thinking of herself. It is now our turn to give back for the sacrifices she has made for us. She came from Colombia in the 80s to provide a better future for her family. She worked since she was young to provide her daughters with a bright future, and we only want what’s best for her through this difficult time.

Currently her husband of 27 years, our father Jose Godinez is the one working to provide for the family. He works over 40 hours a week, and immediately returns home to care for Ingrid. This diagnosis has been a huge toll on Jose because of the stress and worry in caring for Ingrid.

Each and every donation is highly appreciated even if it is one cent. It will help us alleviate costs and stress we are currently living through. Even if you are unable to donate you may do your part by please sharing the link anywhere. Even prayers can go a long way. 

With love and respect,

Jose, Hillary, and Melany

Thank You, we appreciate you ❤️