Supporting My Dad After His ALS Diagnosis (Richard Olive)

Supporting My Dad After His ALS Diagnosis

Hi everyone,

My name is Jessica, and I’m fundraising for my father and our family. Writing this is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

On September 8th, my dad was officially diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) after undergoing a series of tests. It began with subtle changes in his speech—but those small signs quickly became impossible to ignore.

What is ALS?

For those who may not be familiar, ALS is a progressive and incurable disease that attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscles. Over time, it makes it harder—and eventually impossible—to move, speak, swallow, or even breathe. The mind remains fully aware while the body slowly shuts down.

Put more simply: ALS takes everything except your awareness.

Right now, based on his symptoms, doctors believe my dad is in the middle stages of ALS. We haven’t been given a specific prognosis yet, but we know the average life expectancy is 2–5 years. Some people live longer, and we are holding onto hope that we’ll have as much time as possible with him.

The Financial Burden of ALS

ALS doesn’t just take a physical and emotional toll—it’s also financially overwhelming. The cost of care can escalate quickly as the disease progresses:

These expenses include specialized medical equipment, home modifications, ongoing doctor visits, medications, mobility aids, personal care assistance, and eventually, ventilatory support. While insurance helps with some of these costs, it rarely covers everything.

We’re doing our best to prepare, but the truth is: we can’t do this alone.

Get to Know My Dad ❤️

My dad has been married to my mom for 38 years, and their love is strong! I always admired the way he’d find thoughtful ways to surprise her on anniversaries or holidays—it’s just who he is: thoughtful, generous, and endlessly caring.

To my kids (ages 7 and 4), he’s “Pops”—and they absolutely adore him. My son especially looks forward to every visit, because it means a trip to Waffle House with Pops, his favorite breakfast spot.

My dad has always put family first. Growing up, he never let a holiday pass without making it special. On Valentine’s Day, he didn’t just get flowers for my mom—he’d give a rose to my sister and me, too, to make sure we felt seen and loved. He worked long, stressful hours, always making sure we had magical Christmases and memorable birthdays.

In 2023, when my husband had major thoracic surgery that resulted in brain damage and serious complications, my dad came all the way to Pennsylvania to help us. He stayed by our side when my husband returned home from the hospital and even made sure our kids could still go trick-or-treating—pushing my husband in a wheelchair up and down our steep neighborhood hills. That’s just who he is. He’s made it a yearly tradition ever since.

How You Can Help

We’re raising funds to help cover the many expenses we’re now facing, including:

One dream we’ve always talked about is taking a family trip to Disney with my parents and the grandkids. We thought we had a few years to make it happen, but now we realize we have to move it up—before it’s no longer possible. With medical bills already piling up, making this trip happen will be incredibly difficult without help. But we want to give my dad this special memory while we still have time.

Any amount—no matter how small—makes a difference. If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this page or sending a prayer or kind word. Your love and support mean more to us than we can ever express.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading our story and standing by us during this incredibly hard time. My dad has spent his life showing up for others. Now, we’re doing everything we can to show up for him.

With love and gratitude,

Jessica and our family