Turnout for Cory

If you’ve called 9-1-1 in the past 25 years, you might recognize Cory’s face. He is a firefighter/paramedic who helps people on their worst day whether it’s car accidents, a lift assist, a building inspection, or getting their cat off a roof.

Hello everyone. My name is Olivia Fox and I have created this fundraiser to share my dad’s story and help raise money to help our family manage an ALS diagnosis. I have spent my entire life watching my dad drop everything at the sound of an alarm to go help people. Whether we are in the middle of Christmas dinner at the fire station, a school event, or just a lazy day at home, if the radio went off my dad was quickly out the door. Now we are hoping that the community will turnout for us.

[Below is a summary paragraph about what we are hoping to achieve from the fundraiser, however, I strongly encourage you to read his full story!]

Cory was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS in 2020. The progression of ALS is different for every patient which makes the disease harder to manage due to unexpected changes in mobility and overall health. In the last couple of months, Cory has lost stability in his legs making walking unsafe. Due to limited mobility and the difficulty of a manual wheelchair, Cory has issues getting to doctor's appointments, his daughter's basketball games, and other social events. We are looking for assistance to offset the cost of a wheelchair van to help Cory easily attend doctors' appointments, continue to be a part of local events and outings with friends, and travel with our family. Wheelchair vans range in price from about $50,000 to 90,000.

The year 2020 was a rough year for everyone; however, for our family, the year came with additional medical hurdles. In December, Cory was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS. ALS is a disease that affects the nerves' communication with muscles and causes the loss of mobility of the limbs and eventually, the loss of the ability to speak, eat and breathe. There is little known about the progression, treatments, and causes of ALS. Due to the unpredictability of the disease, the life expectancy for patients diagnosed with ALS is anywhere between 3-7 years.

My dad retired in July of 2020 from the Grants Pass Fire Service with the status of Lieutenant. He dedicated 25 years to the city of Grants Pass working everything from paramedic to firefighter to Lieutenant. He retired at 50 years old thinking he would spend the rest of his days golfing, following his daughters through their schooling and athletic journeys, checking things off my mom’s honey-do lists, and traveling to our bucket-list vacations; however, six months after retirement he received his ALS diagnosis.

His first symptoms of ALS included hand tremors and weakness of the biceps (and considering my dad used to train for Strongman Competitions by pulling fire trucks, this was very out of the norm). Today, my dad has no use of his biceps, limited mobility of his triceps, and zero grip in his hands. When you see him around town, he’ll be the guy drinking his beer out of a glass straw–as he is unable to pick up the glass.

Within the past couple of months the strength in his legs have begun to decline; meaning, that walking is unsafe due to the threat of falls. He has borrowed a powerchair from the local ALS organization while we wait for a customized powerchair to make its way through the building and insurance red tape.

The borrowed power wheelchair has already provided a sense of independence for my dad. He can easily wheel himself around the house from point A to point B with little walking on his own. A power chair allows him to sit at the dining table more comfortably. Also, he has gone for a “walk” around our neighborhood in an effort to get outside more which he has not been able to do in months. While the powerchair is helpful around the house, it creates a new complication of getting around town since it is impossible for us to transport it.

Since the diagnosis, our family has been ahead of the curve in preparing for the inevitable. My parents have done an ADA-approved bathroom remodel, sorted out wills and medical paperwork, and acquired expensive medical equipment (like a Hoyer lift, an adjustable bed, and various other mobility aids either through generous gifts from friends or personal purchases). However, we have reached a point where medical costs are exceeding our means. As it should, health insurance is covering much of the cost of prescriptions, a customized power wheelchair, and a future tablet needed for EyeGaze technology so he can control the chair with his eyes (since he doesn’t have the grip to control a joystick). Unfortunately, a wheelchair van to get the power wheelchair around town and to appointments in Portland is not funded through insurance.

Having a wheelchair van will only increase his comfort and the ease with which the family can get from place to place and allow us to continue normal every day driving to our family adventures around the Pacific Northwest. Again, we are hoping that the community will TURNOUT FOR CORY by helping offset the cost of a wheelchair van.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story—

Best Wishes,

Olivia Fox

#turnoutforcory