Please help my mom battle ALS

My mother has always been a strong, reliable, kind, hard working woman and would always drop everything if a loved one needed it. Unfortunately, now she needs help. Mom started having speech issues early last year and it has progressed significantly. At this point, her voice is almost gone and symptoms are present in both of her arms, one leg and it’s starting to weaken the muscles she uses to breathe.

Last month she was diagnosed with bulbar-onset ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; also known as Lou Gherig’s disease). ALS is a progressive neuromuscular/neurodegenerative disease. There are no treatments that are capable of permanently halting it’s progression and there is no cure. It’s a fatal disease and most people die within 2-6 years from the onset of symptoms. It’s been a devastating diagnosis for her- and for our entire family.

She was immediately told to stop working, and although we’re all helping her as much as we can financially and getting services for her, she’s still forced to work part-time to make ends meet. With ALS, energy conservation is essential, so it’s important that she stop working as soon as possible.

While she has health insurance, she still has many costs that aren’t completely covered, including: equipment, transportation, medication, co-pays/co-insurance, medical bills, household bills and (future) palliative care. We’re doing everything possible to ensure she continues to live in her home- even once she can no longer live there independently.

ALS is a very ugly disease and it’s devastating to watch it afflict a loved one. Please consider making a contribution and/or sharing this. All money will go in an account and will be spent directly by her, or on her behalf.