Even in the face of a diagnosis as devastating as ALS, hope is not only possible — it’s powerful. It lives in the extraordinary progress researchers make every year, in therapies that didn’t exist a decade ago, and in the growing global commitment to understanding and ultimately defeating this disease.

My brother, Allistair, was diagnosed with ALS in February 2021 and given “two years and a few months” to live. He has already surpassed that timeline, meeting each day with determination, grace, and a quiet strength that continues to inspire everyone around him.

As his little sister, I’ve watched him navigate every chapter of life with humility, brilliance, and a deep sense of purpose. He excelled academically, built a respected career as a physician, and became a devoted husband and father to two wonderful boys. His achievements are many, but what defines him most is the kind of person he is: thoughtful, generous, endlessly curious, and unwaveringly committed to the people he loves.

ALS has taken much from his body, but it has not diminished his mind or his spirit. Every day, he works to stay mentally sharp, to stay connected, to continue contributing to the medical community, and to keep loving and being loved. Even now, he lifts others up — a testament to who he has always been.

He has had to change how he does things, but he has never given up on living a meaningful life. He still grocery shops weekly, teaches his kids responsibility through household chores, keeps the boys on track with their studies, and loves them unconditionally. Despite the challenges of ALS, he approaches most days with an authentic smile, deep gratitude, and a fantastic sense of humour. His kids respond to his presence with affection, offering daily hugs that mean everything. Beyond home, he continues contributing to research on a cure for sickle cell disease, publishing papers and abstracts at conferences. He truly uses his brilliant mind for the greater good.

Alongside these bright moments is a difficult reality —ALS brings immense and escalating care needs and financial strain that our family cannot manage alone. Home care support, mobility equipment, communication devices, and accessibility modifications are essential for his safety, comfort, and dignity. These costs are significant, ongoing, and far beyond what insurance or savings can cover.

He has spent his life being the helper — the one who shows up, the one who gives, the one who quietly supports everyone around him. Now, he needs that same support in return. Without adequate caregiver funding, his health and safety are at risk.

Your contribution will go directly toward:

Every donation — no matter the amount — lightens the load and gives him more time with friends and loved ones (especially his boys), more comfort in his daily life, and more independence in the ways that still matter. Help us get him to Easter, then Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, his Birthday (in July) and to the start of the next school year for his son’s.

Thank you for taking the time to read his story and for standing with our family as we navigate this difficult journey with as much grace and love as he has always shown us.

ALS is a formidable opponent, but it is not an unbeatable one. If you can donate and share today, you become part of the hope that keeps him going. Together, we can give him the chance to see the medical breakthroughs we believe are coming.

Sincerely,

Alyssa Abraham