Jamie Stewart; Living with ALS Fundraiser

Jamie is a 33 year old vibrant Live Out Loud Army wife and Mother of 2 amazing little boys, Parker (6) and Beckham (3).  She never stops.  She is always up to explore or take a trip.  She loves shopping trips with her boys to Target or trips to the zoo and picking apples and pumpkins in the Fall.  Jamie loves traditions and celebrates them well.  She loves to laugh and loves her family and friends fiercely.  

Approximately 18 months ago, Jamie began to experience problems with her speech.  She immediately began to look for answers and went too many different doctors.  She began to experience other symptoms as time went by but the speech was the most obvious and began to get worst.  Blaine, Jamie's husband, received orders to move and this meant finding new doctors and continuing the journey of finding an answer to what was happening.  After many speculations from different medical professionals, Jamie found herself at a NeuroMuscular doctor's office and heard the diagnosis Bulbar Onset ALS (otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).  This is a motor neuron disease that effects the spinal cord. leading to weakness and muscle atrophy.  Jamie was sent to Emory in Atlanta, to the ALS Center where she met Dr. Glass and he confirmed the diagnosis.  Bulbar Onset ALS starts in the region of the body that effects speech and swallowing and is more aggressive than Limb Onset ALS. 

Though this diagnosis has been devastating for all of us, Jamie moved right into being proactive.  She immediately started the process of getting enrolled in a trial program at Emory and has sought out homeopathic options of care that may slow the process of ALS.  She has also made the choice to LIVE!!  She travels to Florida to see family and spends weekends at her parent's lake house when they are in Georgia.  She continues to celebrate holidays, plan birthdays and spend time with friends.  She has peace that God is carrying her on this journey and she inspires people around her. 

Already, in the short time since her diagnosis, it has become apparent that she is going to need things that are outside of what insurance will cover and outside of what the Army pays her husband and will greatly effect her quality of life.  We need your help, please.  We are asking that you will consider donating money to Jamie and Blaine.  These funds will be used to purchase a Speech Generating Device that will allow Jamie to continue to speak to her friends and family, a motorized chair that will allow Jamie to ambulate independently, a van that will be customized to allow Jamie's chair to be lifted inside of the van.   Jamie wants to participate in a stem cell treatment that is not covered by insurance.  There are countless items that Jamie will need that we can't list here.  Jamie wants to continue to make memories with her children and will use some of these funds to fulfill some bucket list items. She will need specialized care that family will not always be able to meet and these funds will go a long way in helping with those costs.  

Please help Jamie LIVE with ALS.  She is a strong independent wife and mommy that wants to continue making memories and keeping traditions.  Every little bit helps.  People keep asking, what can I do to help.  Well this is your opportunity. This disease would love to take these things from her but with your help we can put on the gloves and fight back with Jamie.  Thank you in advance for all of your help and for passing this along to your friends and family.  Let's do this!!!!!