Support Selso Bosquez's Fight Against ALS

It is with heavy hearts that we share this devastating news with you. A few weeks ago, we learned that our dad, Selso Bosquez, was officially diagnosed with ALS. This disease is extremely painful and eventually shuts down all muscle function. There is no treatment for it, it is terminal. Based on the testing that has been done, and his current functionality, his neurologist at OHSU anticipates he has approximately 6months left of mobility. This news has been soul crushing in so many ways.

While we are grieving... we are also holding space for miracles. One thing I know is that my dad is a fighter! He is going to do everything in his power to fight as long and hard as he can. This is NOT the time for goodbyes, this is the time for celebration of life and creating new memories together <3

Our current focus is to make the next 6 months the best six months ever!!! Packing in 30+yrs that this disease is stealing from us, from him, into the best we can. He has been out of work for months, and money is sparce. We are asking the help of our friends, family and community not for living expenses but to make his bucket list dreams come true! Any type of support means more than we can ever express.

Our goal is for my dad to feel nothing but love and support through this journey. We want to laugh, cry, sing, eat together. Fun day beach trips, concerts, comedy shows, traveling to new places, anything that helps put a smile on his face and creates a great memory!

We are on the hunt for fundraising activities as well, so please don’t hesitate to reach out for ideas.

While I can rant about the medical system failing us, over and over, ignoring his requests for help, that is neither here nor there. We currently have an incredible ALS specific team through OHSU.

We need our family. We need our friends. We need our Community.

Update: 7/19/24: ABOUT SELSO:

For those who may not know him personally, Selso has been an inspiration to many.

He is someone who had to grow up fast and came from a very tough upbringing. When Selso was born, the doctors said he would not survive, with all of his insides being on the outside. His mom took him to the church, to be baptized to die. But, being the true fighter he is, he survived. A miracle baby in every way.

Childhood was not easy. His mother had a nervous breakdown when he was 10 and was hospitalized for the first time, this was followed by many more hospitalizations. He went from foster home to foster home, never really having a true sense of home. Selso worked the fields starting in elementary school to help bring in income. He was a hustler from the time he could walk! Naturally, having an upbringing surrounded with alcohol, drugs, severe mental health issues, an absent father (while absent in his childhood, Selso grew to love his father wholeheartedly regardless of the minimal time spent together), and crime, you adapt to your environment to survive. Having been incarcerated multiple times, Selso used this as a wake up call to change his life, his ways, and invest in living a life that was something to be proud of. He put himself through college, walking rain or shine.

He has been a small business owner in Salem,OR for 10+ years, owning Boss Cuts Barbershop, a business he started with literally nothing but a dream and determination! Selso is known for giving great and humble advice, especially to at-risk/underserved youth, being able to identify with their struggle in an authentic way and always encouraged them to find the positive in life. In addition to starting his business he donated his time to the community, giving free haircuts to the homeless and people who didn’t have money through the church, and being a boxing mentor to youth.

While a successful business owner at the time, Selso didnt want to stop there. He wanted to show his kids the sky was the limit, so he began studying for his real estate license. This was no easy feat, with only a 10th grade education, once again the odds werent in his favor. But, true to his nature, he prevailed.

While the odds may have always been stacked against him, Selso never let that stop him from aiming high and putting in the work to get where he wanted to be. He has taught his children to never give up. If there is an obstacle, you find a way through it. He has a heart of gold, that many of us have been blessed to experience. Selso is witty, humorous, kind hearted, loving, and giving. He is an amazing father, grandfather, friend, and human being.

He always wanted to make a difference no matter what he was doing. Breaking barriers was part of making that difference. He wants people to know that you can overcome mistakes and barriers, it is never too late to change your direction or your story. He believes in leading with kindness, and allowing things to fall into place as they are meant to.

Selso is currently spending his time getting back into drawing and painting, being with his family as much as he can, and continuing to focus on his physical and mental health. As hard as some days may be, he will not let a diagnosis stop him from embracing the time he does have, and making the most of it!