Thank you for visiting my fundraising page! In June 2022, our dad, Thomas Ruiz, passed away due to complications from bulbar amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
ALS is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly causes the loss of ability to walk, speak, swallow, and breathe. Bulbar ALS is a particularly aggressive form of ALS that impacts the bulbar regions of body first, including the face, neck, and mouth. As the illness progresses, the remaining regions of the body are impacted. Once a boisterous, energetic hairdresser and makeup artist, our dad slowly lost his ability to speak, swallow, and engage in daily activities without assistance as he fought this illness. Despite these challenges, our dad remained in positive spirits and maintained his bubbly (and mildly inappropriate!) sense of humor until the end of his fight against ALS.
The life expectancy of a person with ALS averages 2 to 5 years from diagnosis, but Bulbar ALS averages 12 to 18 months from diagnosis due to its early impact on critical abilities like swallowing. ALS can strike anyone, and presently there is no known cause or cure. Our dad was also part of a growing number of veterans diagnosed with ALS, presumably due to exposure while he served in the US Navy.
The ALS Association Greater San Diego Chapter was crucial in helping our family navigate care and resources for our dad during his fight against ALS. Our family is very grateful for the support that we received from the ALS Association Greater San Diego Chapter as our dad fought this illness. Please consider walking with me or sponsoring me to raise funds for the ALS Association Greater San Diego Chapter. With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by ALS and their loved ones.