For the past three years, my family and I have been navigating life after my husband Doug’s ALS diagnosis. Doug’s journey began with a serious car accident in November 2020, where he suffered a concussion, broken ribs, and other injuries. As he started to recover, he began experiencing severe hand cramps and weakness, which slowly worsened over the months. At first, we thought these symptoms were related to the accident, but things changed dramatically after Doug contracted the Delta variant of Covid and spent 10 days in the ICU. After that, his symptoms progressed rapidly.

From September 2021 to February 2022, Doug lost the ability to use his hands, walk unassisted, or hold his head up, and he could no longer work. In July 2022, at just 39 years old, he was diagnosed with ALS. Within a year, he lost the ability to walk, stand, feed himself, or breathe without assistance. Now, Doug is a quadriplegic with a tracheostomy, a feeding tube, and a computer that allows him to communicate using only his eyes. He has had many close calls, but by God’s grace, he is still with us.

I have done everything I can to keep us afloat—managing our finances, working full-time from home, and caring for Doug and our children. We’ve stretched our savings as far as possible and maxed out our credit cards, but now we’ve reached a point where we simply can’t do it alone anymore. The costs of daily living, medical expenses, nursing care, and unpaid time away from work have added up. Every day brings new challenges—fielding phone calls, appointments, nurses, doctors, therapists, and all the unexpected things that come our way. I do my best to handle it all with a grateful and cheerful heart, even when the energy runs low. I’d much rather laugh than cry, and I try to keep that spirit alive for my family.

Asking for help isn’t easy for me. I’ve always taken pride in supporting my family and being the one others can rely on. Many friends have asked how they can help, and I usually say we’re surviving or hanging in there. And we have—hanging in there for three years since Doug’s diagnosis. But now, especially during the holidays when I know money is tight for so many, I’m reaching out. Even a little help goes a long way, and we are so grateful to anyone who would offer support. Thank you for considering a donation or sharing our story.