Tim Keyes has ALS

I’m Cy Miller, Owner of Common Vision, a Design/Build Remodeling Company. Tim Keyes has worked for us for 35 years. He’s been a leader and mentor for newer employees - the backbone of our company. Every week, our employees talk about the "Tim Way" for doing things. Tim has ALS.

I haven’t posted an update myself, but Meg did tonight and it prompted me to look at my previous update on our goals. A year or more ago, we updated our goal to $200,000 for the Tim Keyes has ALS fund. We’re not looking for more, because you all have been so generous already… BUT… should you have the means, we won’t turn anything down! The main thing is we really want to update you on the progression of ALS for Tim and Meg.

Tim was diagnosed May 1, 2022 when he noticed his foot was dragging. Not long after, Tim had to retire and start the process with Meg of figuring out how the last years of their lives together would be spent. Week by week since then, things have become harder for them. Not long ago, Tim could feed himself, but now relies on a “robot” to scoop food from a bowl to bring it to his mouth. Easy wheel-chairing has been replaced with multiple lifting stations that will hoist him – with help - from chair to wheelchair, or from wheelchair to bed or toilet. He needs help for the most basic and intimate things. He has to be careful not to lean too far forward in case he can’t sit back upright, and he needs his wheelchair controls adjusted to a position where his fingers can interact with them – he can’t get to the controls on his own.

We try to have lunch every other week, with occasional obstacles. I get to see the progression of ALS for Tim – but also for Meg – in a time-lapse fashion that is hard to comprehend. I see the things that are enormously harder or suddenly impossible. I hear about the troubling and difficult situations or developing concerns. I hear that the last few days were hard but a certain, very fleeting equilibrium was achieved. Through it all, Tim and Meg retain, live and project a love for each other, for the helpers and visitors that flow through their lives and home, a determination to get through it all on their terms.