Help Mark Reavis through his Battle with ALS
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$53,278 raised of $75K
365 donations
Even with ALS I have been blessed for six years.
Hello, my name is Mark Reavis and I have ALS also known as Lou Gehrig disease. With all the celebrities and sports athletes that have been diagnosed and died from this disease recently, you probably understand it a little bit. It's one of the neuromuscular diseases which leads to paralysis, and then loss of breathing function. Life expectancy is 3 to 5 years, but my observation is mostly around the 3 year mark. I started with mobility issues in the arms in the spring of 2020, and then diagnosed December 2020. For the first two years I only saw muscle degradation in the arms and hands. Year three I started losing my ability to walk. By year four my limbs were paralyzed and I became dependent on a respirator. At year six, I'm mostly bedridden because moving me is very hard on my fragile skin up and down my backside. I've done pretty well adjusting my mind so as not to go crazy in dark places while staring at three walls and a ceiling 24/7, but my many skin issues create a situation of nearly around the clock treatment, pain, and itch. I am blessed to have a wonderful care team. They stay calm when I am crying and screaming from the itch and pain. Lol. Still I wake up every day and pray for at least one positive experience that day. It usually comes in the form of some sort of correspondence with friends.
The duration of my disease and the great unforeseen expenses have left my coffers empty, So I come here to ask for help. All donations are used towards medical supplies, comfort items such as braces, wedges, or transfer items. And of course, housing, utilities, and food.
For the days, weeks, months, unlikely but maybe even years that I have left, I am a changed person. I actually hear other people stories of what they're going through and try to imagine what it must be like for them. Sadly it took me getting to my stage for me to develop this level of empathy. Thank you very much, all of you. Love Mark
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