Michelle Branch, Wenatchee, Washington
Difficult situations often prompt people to look to a higher power to seek strength, understanding and grace. Michele Branch, who was diagnosed with ALS in November 2010, adheres to this belief in coping with this deadly, neurodegenerative disease. Branch, who retired from Catholic Charities of Spokane’s Neighborhood Action Programs, now depends on The ALS Association’s Evergreen Chapter and educates others about ALS.
Michelle Branch
“Every day, people like Michele inspire us to go forward and continue to strive to accomplish our vision of a world without ALS,” said Lisa Renee Schoonover, the chapter’s patient care coordinator. “She has encountered difficulties in her life, but she has maintained a positive attitude in coping with this disease.” In March 2012, the chapter featured Branch in the “Spotlight” section of its online newsletter.
As a high school senior, the Spokane born-and-raised Branch visited six European countries in 1968 through the People to People High School Ambassador Program. She continued to live in her hometown and worked retail jobs until she got married at 21 and gave birth to her son, Joel Stralser, and became a stay-at-home mother. She also has two other children by marriage, Amy Branch and Eric Branch.
Branch worked at Catholic Charities as a bookkeeper from 1976 1998. She attained her A.A. from Spokane Community College in 2000, after marrying her husband, Bob, in 1996. The family relocated to Wenatchee when Bob accepted a position at Wenatchee Valley College. Unfortunately, their marriage lasted only 12 years as Bob died from metastatic bone cancer in 2008.
Despite this loss and her ALS diagnosis, Branch, 61, relies on her faith for coping with ALS. “I am a Christian and know that the Lord has helped me every step of the way,” said Branch. “He gives me courage and strength each day, and my faith keeps me going.”
Branch is experiencing weakness is all her limbs and currently utilizes a power wheelchair. She requires round-the-clock caregiving due to the progression of her disease and lives in a senior living facility.
Schoonover said Branch plans to continue to educate others in her community about ALS during May.
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