Kyle’s Fight Against ALS

On behalf of Kyle Koskella and his family;

Kyle is 29 years old and was married just shy two years ago. Shortly after he married he and his wife (Mariah) had a son Levi. But just before his wedding and birth of their son, Kyle tripped and fell and thought he just sprained his ankle. Just in case it was more than a sprain, he decided to go to the doctor and have it checked out. It was just a sprain. However, weeks went by and he noticed his foot was dropping and that it was hard for him to grip and open the top of a jar as well.

So, he made another appointment and they ran a few tests. The result – there is a problem, he was told. They thought he might have MS (Multiple Sclerosis). He was sent for more tests and Physical Therapy, but he seemed to be getting worse and at a fairly rapid pace. We spoke with multiple doctors that were in various states and other countries and they felt it was something much worse. After even more tests (covering food and chemical allergies) it was determined over about eight months that he may have ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). This is a disease that is normally not caught at first or I should say it is misdiagnosed in the early stages. Once a person has been diagnosed, the life expectancy is 3 to 5 years. Some cases are much shorter and a few cases live beyond that. We are praying that he is one of those whose lives can be extended. Before I go any further, I would like to introduce you to our son, Kyle;

Kyle’s life was a typical boy’s life, he played sports as a kid, from peewee football, baseball and basketball to his gaming. However, when he was around 10 years old, he started Martial Arts and did very well, he was like a fish in water. He excelled tremendously and by the time he was 13 or 14 years old he was teaching kids and adult classes. By the time he was 16, his Master/Instructor asked him to consider being a partner in the martial arts school. He studied and taught an average of 35 hours a week, plus. In his spare time, he loved the outdoors. As he became a young man, he would love to fish and camp, as well as hike. He would generally be out and about as he got older in his jeep out on the trails or traveling up to the mountains.

As time went by and he was now in his early 20s, his goal was to own his home, pay off his Jeep and find a girl he loved, and start a family. He was able to accomplish some of this, but out of the blue, he was struck with this terrible disease. It’s now been about 22 months of going through the trials and tribulations that have been put before him and his family. It’s been tough on him, his marriage and his little boy, Levi. He can’t do the things with his wife or son that he always dreamed of doing, but at least for the moment he can still sit and visit with them. You see, in the last 22 months, he’s gone from running and walking to using a scooter, to now a power-chair. He’s one of the lucky ones, per se. You see, he is still able to speak, most at this stage have lost their voice box. He has virtually no use of his legs at this point, and now losing the use of his hands entirely.

Levi who is now 21 months old, and starting to speak and run around will not be able to do the things Kyle and I, his father used to do together. However, Levi does know his father loves him and that he is near. Kyle is not one to ever ask for help, thus, it is my turn to ask for help. Over the past almost two years, the family has been put under a heavy burden of financial output for medical bills, traveling back and forth to Phoenix, to the Barrows Neurological Institute and Cedars in Los Angeles. He has an infusion weekly and is currently on some experimental drugs to help prolong his life. We still believe a miracle could happen, but we are also realistic about the continued trials ahead of him.

The funds will be used to help with the cost of his medical requirements, the equipment needs to live a sustainable life at home and make him as comfortable as possible. And finally, a Van for his power-chair so he can go outside and be with others. Any leftover funds will be dedicated to the upbringing of his son, Levi.

We do believe in miracles and know this would be the greatest of all – to provide the pleasures he deserves during his time left with his family and his friends.

Thank you all for your consideration and may you always be Blessed!