Supporting Angie and her family through ALS

Our names are Janine Forrest and Sara Wilson, and Angie Leroux is one of our dearest friends. Last fall, 2021, Angie began experiencing frightening medical symptoms. She underwent test after test, many MRIs and spinal taps. She consulted with her doctors and was referred to some of the best neurologists in southern Ontario. It took months to figure this out and countless hours in and out of the hospital.

This past February, Angie and her family received the devastating news. Angie has been diagnosed with Upper Motor Neuron Dominant ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). ALS is a terminal disease that attacks your nervous system. This disease affects everyday tasks like eating, speaking, walking, and much more.

Since then, Angie has been undergoing various medical treatments. She is registered with the ALS Society of Canada and receives support with some mobility equipment like a transport wheelchair. She is being seen every three months at the McMaster ALS clinic. Angie has recently started infusions and will soon begin a new ALS drug that costs 250K a year; fortunately, this drug is being looked after by a reimbursement team who will cover whatever her insurance company will not pay.

Family and friends of Angie, Mike & nine-year-old daughter, Abbey, are asking for your help for this extraordinary young family with some financial support to renovate their home to meet Angie's current and future needs and medical challenges.

Angie had no choice, but to leave her job, to seek medical care. She requires a cane, walker, and wheelchair for her mobility. Navigating the stairs and the second level of her home is a challenge. They have no choice but to renovate their lower-level home.

Sadly, Angie and Mike do not qualify for any funding support. The last thing they need is to face a financial burden! They have already been emotionally drained!

At times like this, everyone asks how they can help! You can help by donating any amount of money so we can get Angie a stair and wheelchair lift for the front door of their home, an electric wheelchair to get around, and likely a wheelchair-accessible van. Most importantly, she requires a renovated bathroom and a new bedroom (probably the garage) on the main floor.

It's hard to fathom what lies ahead for Angie and her family. She is one of the most generous individuals I know; Angie has given so much to her family & friends, our school communities, students, and even to her adopted children in Africa. She is always taking care of other people. It wasn't easy to convince Angie and Mike to allow me to set this up for them.

Angie needs our help now! Please consider donating to help pay for the renovations in her home that will make her day-to-day life more manageable. It would mean so much to Angie and her family.