The Gift of Time - ALS has no cure

Jim Ballou was diagnosed with ALS in January. ALS has no cure. We are “Friends of Jim & Ann Ballou and Family” and love them dearly. As we realize the pain they are going through, we want to give them a lifetime gift. A memorable one-week vacation to Florida for Jim’s 65th Birthday, including the entire family, Jim, Ann, four adult children - Abigail Ballou (Barry Khatib), Ashley Ballou, Casey Ballou (Mandi), Amy Sullivan (Bryan) and 12 grandchildren (11 current, one addition expected in June). We picked Longboat Key, Florida, because we have two condos donated to the family for this trip, saving us $4,000. of lodging. They will be on the Gulf of Mexico with access to fishing, swimming, boating, sunsets, dolphin watching, and beautiful pictures to treasure forever.

At this time, Jim is experiencing many of the debilitating effects of ALS, but we believe he will still be well enough to go on this trip, as it is entirely wheelchair accessible. We need your help to make this happen. They have never had a reunion with everyone. We hope you will join us in bringing together a family to make memories forever.

From the Ballou Children-

The Gift of Time

Time is precious. It's a saying we have all heard and all too often accept at face

value. Then something happens in our life that causes us to re-evaluate what

those words mean to us. For me, it was my father's diagnosis of ALS. Accepting

the reality of a rare disease affecting a close family member is a humbling

experience. We go about our busy lives one day at a time with the good

intentions of meeting all of our responsibilities, budgeting our time according to

our priorities, planning to do this or that. Only to experience that the things

we desire are being met by a greater circumstance that will not allow them to

come to fruition. As disheartening as it may be, we ask ourselves, "now

what?". Well, priorities change. Responsibilities change. Plans change. Now,

we don't have the luxury of procrastination. Time is precious.

My dad is the most outstanding example of a family man I know in life. He has

worked hard to provide for his own family and has always been there for others

in times of need. He has given his own time selflessly, and it brings me sadness

and grief to know that his time is now limited. I know that he values family

more than anything, and spending more time together now would be of

immeasurable value to all of us. It has become a priority for our whole family

to gather and enjoy time spent together. We would gladly appreciate

any contributions to help make this happen. What you are really giving is

the gift of time.

Jim and Ann with their beautiful Daughters

Casey & Mandi Ballou

About ALS

Jim has undergone six months of tests and was officially diagnosed with ALS at the beginning of January 2022. As Jim and Ann look back, they estimate he has had various symptoms for two years.

ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the baseball Hall of Famer, who was diagnosed with it in 1938, damages motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons are nerve cells that control muscle movement.

Over time, Als causes these motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord to shrink and disappear. Electrical and chemical messages originating in the brain never reach the muscles to activate them. Muscles weaken from lack of stimulation and use.

Unable to function, the muscles gradually weaken, waste away (atrophy), and twitch (fasciculation). Eventually, the ability of the brain to start and control voluntary movement is lost, and the body becomes paralyzed. The strength of any voluntary muscle group can be affected in ALS, including those that control facial expressions, chewing, swallowing, speaking, the neck, arms, trunk, legs, and breathing.

While there is not yet a cure for ALS, research is ongoing.

If you have ever lost your Husband, Father, or Grandfather, you realize what you would give to spend a week with them at the beach. Having lost my father, I know what I would give, but it is too late for me, so I will live vicariously through the Ballou Family. We pray we can make this happen for them, and with your help, we will.

The costs for ALS treatment and care are beyond what most families can afford. The extra money we make from this GoFundMe will help with the many costs of this disease and home care costs.

Budget - Ballou GoFundMe

Airfare $5,500.00

Lodging $4,400.00

Transportation $3,000.00

Food $3,200.00

Professional Photo Session on Beach $700.00

Experiences $1000.00

Misc. $1000.00

Total $18,000.00