Support for Dad's journey back home

On March 12, 2024, our family's life was forever changed by these three words, “Early Stage ALS!”

As you can imagine, it's not something you ever expect to hear, especially as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also known as ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, or motor neuron disease) is very rare with only 200,000 people currently living with it around the world.

It is a disease that progressively paralyzes people because the brain is no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body that we are typically able to move at will. Over time, as the muscles of the body break down, someone living with ALS will lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe.

In just 4 short months, our Dad (and grandfather, brother, cousin, friend), Robert, has lost the ability to take care of himself. A man who just earlier this year was walking 7-9 miles a day. His speech and swallowing have become affected, left arm and hand unusable, and his walking and balance are compromised causing him to fall regularly.

Our Dad was always the life of any gathering. Whether it was talking to total strangers and making them new friends, or his favorite servers he became chummy with at the local restaurants. Our Dad always left an impression wherever he went, especially with his big New Yorker voice and personality. He was never one not to be social. This is all quickly changing, and we need to take action now to make sure that he has everything he will need as this disease is rapidly progressing.

Dad was not able to first afford the medication prescribed to him which would have slowed the progression of the disease. Now, he is declining rapidly, and can no longer care for himself.

Our Dad is in need of full-time caregiving, which once again is not covered by his insurance. He is also in need of home modifications for a wheelchair ramp, house railings, bathtub and shower modifications. Our family does not have the means or resources for it which is why we are asking for your help.

Our Dad deserves the best care because he has given us the best a father can give. We simply want to provide him with the quality of care that will help him maintain as much dignity as a human deserves. We are witnessing a devastating disease that is slowly ripping away parts of our father, and we want to provide him with the most compassionate and qualified care.

Thank you for your generosity, your prayers, and your love. Please go hug someone and tell them that you love them.

The funds we are asking for will help us get Dad a caregiver and some home modifications.

With Gratitude,

Shari & Tami (his daughters)