Michelle Wright needs us!

Lou Gehrig was a tough guy

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.  What ever you want to call it...it stinks!  A few years ago the ice bucket challenge spread around the world.  It helped raise money and awareness of this horrible disease.  I really didn't know much about it other than the famous Lou Gehrig fought and lost his battle with it.  The ice bucket challenge made many more famous and non famous battles public.  It didn't touch me so I just donated my little bit and said "Wow, how sad.".  Now, its different.  It is in my head.  It is in my heart.  It has invaded my safe little bubble.  My Bestie Michelle was diagnosed June 30th 2018 after 3 years of misdiagnosis started by a fractured ankle incident on February 5 2015. That means that those of us that love Michelle have been watching this disease attack gradually paralyzing her because her brain is no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body that she would typically be able to move at will.  Over time as the muscle of the body breaks down, Michelle loses her ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow and eventually breathe. There is no cure for ALS and few treatment options.  Approximately 80% of people with ALS die within 2 to 5 years of diagnosis...like I said, IT STINKS!


In the first year Michelle and her husband Doug have had to install a outdoor ramp to their front door so she could get in and out of their home, they bought a scooter for transportation as she was no longer able to walk independently, a stair lift to get upstairs to her bedroom and bathroom, a portable bath lift so she could get into the bathtub, a toilet riser, transfer pole, a lift for their car and grab bars. While some of these items were donated from the ALS Society of Windsor and they have very thankfully received some financial assistance from the Ontario Assistance Device Program, a large portion has cost Michelle and Doug several thousands of dollars out of their own pocket.  Thankfully Michelle has worked in the social service field for 40 years providing support for those with disabilities. Unfortunately she  has a reduced pension  due to a forced early retirement because of the onset of the disease. Living with ALS is very expensive. The average ALS patient spends between 150,000 and $200,000 on equipment and other necessary materials.  As the disease has progressed the family was forced to convert the living room into a bedroom and a  wheelchair accessible bathroom was Installed within the living room costing Doug and Michelle over $25,000.  

While there are many wonderful organizations out there to support people with disabilities such as March of Dimes, Silver Cross, Easter Seal, Ontario Home Renovation, Michelle and Doug found they were not eligible for any of the programs.  Michelle has progressed to needing a wheelchair full time so will need a vehicle that she can get into without transfers.   There are always doctor appointments, grandkids games etc. that she needs to get to. Thus this Go Fund Me Campaign has been started to assist them in purchasing that vehicle. 


Now let me tell you just a little about my amazing friend.  Michelle has a very close knit family. She and Doug have been married for 40 years and always enjoyed spending weekends with their daughter Amber, her husband Chris and their two boys Caleb and Christopher in the gym or out in the football field. They enjoy their son Kyle, his wife Amie and their three toddlers, Myana, Sloane and Kane at dance recitals or in the backyard swimming  and Sunday dinners. Michelle’s heart is never far away from the memory of her two grandchildren Reuben and Daisy who have passed away and gone up to heaven.

 Michelle is well known in her community for giving back whether she was making soup and sandwiches in her kitchen for the homeless or providing support  to her church as a past president of the ladies aid and missionary circle.  She never said no to someone in need.  She never held back a needed hug or some comforting words.   Michelle is known as one to give to others. Please help us give to her now.