It has been an incredibly difficult year for the Morris family — Joannie, Aaron, Kyle, Kelsey, and Becca. What began as a strange loss of voice for Joannie, turned into a series of devastating news that would test their strength.

After struggling with her speech since March of 2024, Joannie underwent medical testing, which revealed a 10-pound mass in her throat, compressing her vocal cords and causing numerous complications. Surgery was performed in hopes of restoring her voice. While the surgery was successful in removing the mass, the Morris family received heartbreaking news: the tumor was cancerous. Joannie was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in October 2024.

She began weeks of radiation and treatment, and just as the family prepared to hear the results of her thyroid cancer battle, another devastating call came. While sitting in the cancer ward, Joannie received a completely unrelated call, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

Incredibly, Joannie beat thyroid cancer. The next step was a hysterectomy to prevent the uterine cancer from advancing. But even as her body recovered, her voice continued to worsen.

After countless appointments, specialists, and speech therapy sessions, the Morris family received the most unexpected diagnosis on December 6, 2024: Joannie has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Joannie’s specific form is Bulbar ALS, which attacks the muscles in the mouth and throat responsible for speech. Eventually, she will lose the ability to talk. The disease is progressive, with most people living only 2–5 years after diagnosis. The ALS has already begun to spread throughout other parts of her body as well.

Despite all of this, Joannie continues to fight. The Morris family has rallied around her, even learning sign language so they can communicate with her as her voice fades.

But emotionally and financially, the burden is immense. While fighting two types of cancer and now an incurable neurological disease, the Morris family is facing a mountain of medical bills and upcoming expenses. The cost of living with ALS is estimated a $250,000, including medications, equipment, home modifications, and full-time care.

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Please consider donating to help ease the financial strain on the Morris family so they can focus on what truly matters — spending precious time with Joannie and providing her with the care she deserves.

If you're unable to donate, sharing this page is also an incredible way to support.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story and for standing beside our family during this incredibly difficult journey.

-The Morris Family ❤️