Hi all, this is something I never imagined I would have to do. Ask my Friends and Family for help to take my Husband on a Last Family Trip. Travis was Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease, commonly known as ALS in April 2022 after a year of every test imaginable. Since he was diagnosed he has progressed very quickly. At this point, he has lost about 95% of his mobility and is now losing his voice permanently. He is completely dependent on me for everything from scratching his head or cleaning out his nose to bathing and eating. This has been not only physically painful and hard for him but it has also taken a toll on him mentally and emotionally.

Living up North in the winter is hard on everyone. The lack of sunshine gives everyone the Winter Blues. But stack that with being stuck in your house unable to move, in an electric wheelchair that you can't drive on your own anymore... and the Depression becomes overwhelming. At times he gets consumed with thoughts about the "end". And how this isn't fare.

Travis would like to take a Last Family Trip to the Sunshine State. He wants to soak in that warm sun and breathe in the sweet warm salty air. He plans to explore new places with the kids. We picked ones that look Fun, Festive and will for sure be memorable.

In the past we always put family vacations on the back burner while working to fix our credit and buy our first home and reliable vehicle. We thought we had time. Nobody ever expects to be diagnosed with a terminal illness.

The Huffington Post has published many articles on ALS. In one of the articles, they talk about how it affects families financially. "ALS is a very expensive disease, costing patients an estimated $300,000 a year. The majority of patients bankrupt their families with the costs, and an even larger number simply can't afford the cost to stay alive, so they don't. Can you imagine - having to stop BEING ALIVE because it's too expensive?"

Please help me give this wish to him. He deserves this and much more.

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It causes degeneration of motor neurons that control muscles, causing muscle wasting and loss of voluntary muscle control. ALS eventually leads to an inability to breathe and ultimately death. ALS occurs in approximately 1 to 4 per 100,000 individuals, and it is estimated that over 30,000 Americans are living with ALS. Each year 6,400 people are diagnosed in the U.S.