Dear colleagues, neighbors, friends, and family,

Your ongoing prayers and well wishes have been such a blessing to Mark and our family!

It has been almost 10 years since Mark was first diagnosed with ALS, and this is our 9th year participating in the Walk to Defeat ALS.  The first 5 years Mark was able to continue to work and check off a few things from his bucket list.  The past 5 years he has continued to beat the odds and receive care at home, with a positive attitude and a strong will to continue to embrace the life he does have. 

Mark made the decision in July to receive palliative hospice care which means he no longer wants to make any trips to the emergency room or be hospitalized, focusing instead on comfort measures rather than extending life with any extraordinary or invasive measures.  While he can no longer communicate verbally, a nod of his head, shoulder shrug, eye contact and bright smile convey his continued love of life. 

Mark has had the opportunity to be cared for at home and have quality of life over these past 10 years because of the direct support of the Orange County ALS Association.  Our hope is that you can once again, or for the first time, contribute to this incredible organization that has continued to be a life-line and ray of hope to so many of us that have been affected by this disease.

With gratitude for your continued generosity,

Mark & Donna Hume