Help Lisa Beat ALS! New Medication Needed!

Many of you know our dear friend Lisa from her 35 dedicated years at the Sunset Restaurant. Lisa was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in June 2021. In the short time since her diagnosis, the disease has rapidly progressed and has already taken much of Lisa's mobility. She can no longer walk and has lost significant function in her arms and hands.

Most of us know Lisa as the "domesticated diva." She is an avid gardener and canning extraordinaire. She made incredible sauces and preserves by the caseload fresh from her garden, something she looked forward to each summer. If you are a friend of Lisa's or even a friend of a friend, chances are you have had a slice of her delicious Jewish apple or rum cake...or perhaps one of the hundreds of decadent birthday cakes she lovingly baked and surprised friends, family and customers with regularly over the years. Lisa is an incredibly gifted scratch-baker and chef.

Lisa and her husband Bill hosted and personally catered the absolute best parties for all occasions, and all were welcome with open arms and an open door, the only way hearts as warm as theirs would permit.

This year was different for Lisa and Bill.

This year Lisa and Bill have been frantically attempting to navigate an everchanging new way of life around Lisa's mobility and care. ALS has robbed them of every sense of normalcy and simplicity they had in their lives. The emotional and financial wreckage of this diagnosis has been relentless.

Lisa and Bill no longer have the ability to partake in the simplest of joys in their life. Instead, their days revolve around Lisa's daily care, navigating the constant obstacles of denied insurance coverage and attempting to plan for an unknown future. They are consumed with the heartbreak and worry surrounding Lisa's declining condition, alongside how they will afford the subsequent eminent purchase of the next medical device, medication or home modification.

Thus far, Lisa and Bill have had to purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, lifts, slings, ramps and numerous other assistance devices to help with Lisa's primary care and travel to and from her medical appointments. To support Lisa's ever-changing needs, they also endured costly bathroom remodels twice within just months of each other.

But there is hope.

There have been more advances in understanding the causes and treatment of ALS in the last few years than in the previous three decades. Lisa has recently completed a clinical trial with positive results. She has also recently had genetic testing, confirming that Lisa carries a hereditary gene that causes ALS.

Extremely promising gene therapy on the horizon focuses on the gene mutation that Lisa carries. Scientists have had significant success with this therapy, which is expected to be available in clinical trials very soon.

Lisa needs more time.

The FDA recently approved a breakthrough drug that does just that; it gives ALS patients more time.

Lisa desperately needs this drug therapy, but the out-of-pocket cost for Bill and Lisa after the insurance deduction is just over $3000 a month.

With all the other unplanned expenses they have undertaken in such a short time, affording this medication is not within their reach.

But together, we can make sure Lisa gets the care she needs.

Please consider donating to help relieve the Mullinix family of some of the financial burden they face so they may afford upcoming medical expenses and, most importantly, the medication that Lisa needs to stay strong and heal while she waits for forthcoming trials.

Please continue to pray for Lisa and her family. Please share with your contacts. Thank you all so much for your support.

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"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" -Aristotle

Her fight is our fight.

We are #LisaStrong

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