My ALS Journey
Donation protected
6 months ago, my Doctor said I have ALS.
Six months ago, my journey towards death began... Everyone dies, most live oblivious to this inevitable fact. Some are faced with it and fight to extend their lives while others are faced with death and unable to slow fate.
ALS is a neurological disease. Basically the nerves between my brain and muscles stop working. The process is random and differs with each person. For me, the muscles in my throat went first. My ability to eat and speak... Gone. My hands and legs are starting to go. The strength I used to take for granted is gravely missed. The ability to open a water bottle or lift a gallon of milk... Gone.
I was told I have a 50/50 shot of seeing my 10 year old son become a teenager. The odds of seeing him become a man are less then 10%. These truths bring my spirituality front and center. I tell myself I will see it all, that I will watch over him from above. Now, just how do you tell a child their mother is going to slowly loose every ability to move and die?
Anyone who knows me would tell you I am a strong independent woman. I spent most of my life as a single mother, the provider, the helper. If something needed to be done, i did it. Ironically, the most challenging part of my journey so far has been learning to ask for help.
Living week to week is nothing new to me. Most of my life, I have been confronted with challenging life lessons. I survived them all. I have witnessed the beautiful kindness in others and felt the warm inner joy of being truly loved. The journey ahead is the most challenging I will confront. Yet, I will face it kindness and love of others.
Learning to live day by day has been challenging to say the least. Going from a 15 year career to Social Security Disability was devastating. My income decreased by 75% in the blink of an eye. Being unable to speak made keeping my job and finding a new one impossible. The loss of using my hands will be the next wave to crash.
Which brings me here... should you choose to help.
The current worries I have financially are as follows:
The place we call home is for sale and I have no means to pay for security deposits for a new place.
My children deserve a Christmas that I have no current way to provide.
Basic needs beyond food for them. Clothes as they grow, etc.
Funeral expenses as I literally cannot even afford to die.
Thank you for your kindness, may you have a profoundly wonderful journey.
Six months ago, my journey towards death began... Everyone dies, most live oblivious to this inevitable fact. Some are faced with it and fight to extend their lives while others are faced with death and unable to slow fate.
ALS is a neurological disease. Basically the nerves between my brain and muscles stop working. The process is random and differs with each person. For me, the muscles in my throat went first. My ability to eat and speak... Gone. My hands and legs are starting to go. The strength I used to take for granted is gravely missed. The ability to open a water bottle or lift a gallon of milk... Gone.
I was told I have a 50/50 shot of seeing my 10 year old son become a teenager. The odds of seeing him become a man are less then 10%. These truths bring my spirituality front and center. I tell myself I will see it all, that I will watch over him from above. Now, just how do you tell a child their mother is going to slowly loose every ability to move and die?
Anyone who knows me would tell you I am a strong independent woman. I spent most of my life as a single mother, the provider, the helper. If something needed to be done, i did it. Ironically, the most challenging part of my journey so far has been learning to ask for help.
Living week to week is nothing new to me. Most of my life, I have been confronted with challenging life lessons. I survived them all. I have witnessed the beautiful kindness in others and felt the warm inner joy of being truly loved. The journey ahead is the most challenging I will confront. Yet, I will face it kindness and love of others.
Learning to live day by day has been challenging to say the least. Going from a 15 year career to Social Security Disability was devastating. My income decreased by 75% in the blink of an eye. Being unable to speak made keeping my job and finding a new one impossible. The loss of using my hands will be the next wave to crash.
Which brings me here... should you choose to help.
The current worries I have financially are as follows:
The place we call home is for sale and I have no means to pay for security deposits for a new place.
My children deserve a Christmas that I have no current way to provide.
Basic needs beyond food for them. Clothes as they grow, etc.
Funeral expenses as I literally cannot even afford to die.
Thank you for your kindness, may you have a profoundly wonderful journey.
Organizer
Tammy Pinto
Organizer
Atco, NJ
