In September 2021, my sister in law, Madelyn Perez was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) after having lost strength in her one hand. She has been a teacher at North Rockland School District for over 23 years and has not been able to work due to her condition since December 2021.

ALS is a very rare and progressive disease. The only way to diagnose it is to rule out everything else that it could be. The doctors who diagnosed her have not been able to offer her any hope and have basically told her they can only monitor the progression of the disease.

After much testing, Madelyn has found out through all this that she also has Lyme Disease. After endless research and speaking with others in a similar situation, she feels she may be able to treat her symptoms in hopes that her initial diagnosis of ALS is inaccurate and her symptoms are due to her having untreated Lyme Disease for so long. She has found wonderful Lyme literate doctors who are giving her HOPE that her symptoms CAN be treated and her condition is not a death sentence like her original doctors have told her.

In the short time since being diagnosed, Madelyn has lost muscle strength in her leg, both arms and has started having trouble with her speech. As you can imagine, this has turned her life upside down and she has become dependent on her family to care for her. Her will to FIGHT however, has remained STRONG!

Again through research, she has found a specialized clinic in Florida (the only one in the United States) that shows positive results for treating people with ALS, Lyme Disease and MS. The clinic of course, is extremely costly. Madelyn's medical insurance does not cover the cost of her to visit this clinic. In addition, her insurance doesn't cover any supplements, special diets, and special devices that she desperately needs in order to treat her symptoms. All of which are extremely expensive.

Her family and friends would like to help take some of the financial burden off Madelyn's shoulders so she only has to worry about getting well and healing herself. Please consider donating. No amount is too small. If you can not donate please add Madelyn to your prayers as she TRULY believes faith will get her through this. Donations will go towards clinical treatments and temporary housing because treatments are out of state and she needs to stay at the clinic for up to 3 weeks at a time.

Madelyn is determined to get well. Her wish is once she is well again, to share the knowledge she gained through her own research and to spread HOPE to help others who are going through the same situation. If you know Madelyn, you KNOW nothing will get in her way of doing this. Madelyn has always been a selfless friend, family member, co worker, and member of our community. I am certain that we can all come together and give Madelyn a new sense of HOPE.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Please feel free to share this far and wide. Thank you.