Thank you for helping us reach our fund raising goal! Together we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by Lou Gehrig?s Disease. Our team is committed to raising money to support people in our community with ALS and spread awareness of the urgency to find treatment and a cure. Please consider joining our team in the Walk to Defeat ALS® or choose a team member from the list and donate to our cause.
Mom was diagnosed on September 26, 2012 with ALS. Her first real symptom showed up at the end of May while she was caring for her sister who had cancer. We were told it was a mild stroke. On June 16, 2012 (3 days after her sister passed away), mom fell after her left side went numb. We just assumed it was another stroke due to the stress and loss of her best friend. Even with out-patient rehab, we noticed that she was not getting any better. In fact, she was getting worse. On September 16, she was taken to the ER and admitted to the hospital with severe leg cramping and tremors. Another MRI was done and the neurologist told us that there was no sign of any stroke and she suspected that it was a muscle degeneration disease. On September 26 we went to see a neurologist who tested Mom for ALS. It was definitely not the news we wanted to hear. She then spent 3 weeks at in-patient rehab and was home 2 days before ending up back in the hospital after a severe choking episode that triggered a mild heart attack. Following another week in the hospital, she was home 1 day before we made the call to Hospice. She was admitted to the Hospice HomePlace in Tyler on October 20 and on November 10, 2012 God called her Home.
Mom not only showed strength through this whole process, but beautiful FAITH. She was continually thinking of others and shared her Faith and Love in the Lord. What a wonderful Legacy she left behind and we have been so blessed to have her as our mother and friend.
Why We Need Your Help
Often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease. ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries.
This crippling disease can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease yet it still costs loved ones an average of $200,000 a year to provide the care ALS patients need. Help make a difference and donate or join a walk today.
