Donation protected
Will was diagnosed with ALS in June of 2020 at the age of 39 years-old. His symptoms started roughly 2 years before his diagnosis.
The life expectancy for most ALS patients is grim—less than 5 years after diagnosis. There is no known cure for ALS, but a handful of FDA approved treatments.
To read about Will's journey to a diagnosis and family updates, please follow along with Gabrielle's caring bridge journal. On her caring bridge "No White Flags, " Gabrielle shares family updates and gives your a window into life with ALS https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/willrutherford
To read about Will's journey to a diagnosis and family updates, please follow along with Gabrielle's caring bridge journal. On her caring bridge "No White Flags, " Gabrielle shares family updates and gives your a window into life with ALS https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/willrutherford
Many people are asking how they can help.
Right now, the family appreciates our prayers, but they also are in need of financial support. Living with ALS can be extremely costly.
For instance, even with Medicare parts A &B, a Medigap plan, and a pharmacy plan D, one of Will's prescribed ALS medications (Radicava) costs Will's family $500 a month. He takes this medication 10days every month (it’s an intravenous infusion he receives through his port).
They have several financial hurdles to jump in the near future.
Currently Will's primary mode of transportation is his power wheel chair. He is only able to walk very short distances with a rollator. They will need to buy or lease a vehicle that can accommodate Will's power chair, so he can continue to visit the ALS Clinic and participate in his young family's life.
Secondly, they will need to pay for a whole-home generator that can keep necessary medical equipment like his power chair and ventilator running in the event of widespread power outage events like Hurricane Ida.
Ultimately, Will will lose the ability to walk, breathe, speak, and eat on his own. ...Currently, he relies on Gabrielle for meal preparation and many of his tasks of everyday living like showering and dressing. They will need to pay trained personal to assist Gabrielle with his day-to-day care-taking tasks as Will's ALS progresses to ensure that he is safe when Gabrielle is working.
Right now, the family appreciates our prayers, but they also are in need of financial support. Living with ALS can be extremely costly.
For instance, even with Medicare parts A &B, a Medigap plan, and a pharmacy plan D, one of Will's prescribed ALS medications (Radicava) costs Will's family $500 a month. He takes this medication 10days every month (it’s an intravenous infusion he receives through his port).
They have several financial hurdles to jump in the near future.
Currently Will's primary mode of transportation is his power wheel chair. He is only able to walk very short distances with a rollator. They will need to buy or lease a vehicle that can accommodate Will's power chair, so he can continue to visit the ALS Clinic and participate in his young family's life.
Secondly, they will need to pay for a whole-home generator that can keep necessary medical equipment like his power chair and ventilator running in the event of widespread power outage events like Hurricane Ida.
Ultimately, Will will lose the ability to walk, breathe, speak, and eat on his own. ...Currently, he relies on Gabrielle for meal preparation and many of his tasks of everyday living like showering and dressing. They will need to pay trained personal to assist Gabrielle with his day-to-day care-taking tasks as Will's ALS progresses to ensure that he is safe when Gabrielle is working.
At the top of Will's "Bucket List" is finding the right combination of therapies and treatments to extend his life so that his young son and daughter will be old enough to have some good memories with their Dad.
All proceeds from this Go Fund Me will go directly to the Rutherford family to help with treatment + life expenses.
Please consider donating. Please share this link with friends and family.
ALS is a diagnosis that takes a village to fight--your assistance is greatly appreciated.
*The Rutherfords would like to say a special THANK YOU to Emily Kornman and the folks at TEAM GLEASON for the love and support they have provided thus far. Please consider donating to this wonderful organization www.teamgleason.org
Co-organizers (3)
Emily Ballard
Organizer
Raleigh, NC
William Rutherford
Beneficiary
Gabrielle Rutherford
Co-organizer