Thank you for helping us reach our fund raising goal! Together we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by ALS. 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.
About out Mom:
A huge thank you to the wonderful ALS team that has assisted our Mom, Grandma, Sister, Aunt, friend and much more. It is with great sorrow that we have lost this beautiful creature after almost three years battling ALS. The care she received was excellent and her team and support group was unprecedented. We will continue to contribute, advocate and participate in any way we can to find a cure for this disease. Our family had almost three years to prepare for a day that was by far the hardest yet. We do not wish to see another's loved one endure the same. Thank you for joining Mama Rie's Crusading Clan. We won't stop until a cure is found.
Thank you,
Molly
From Sharon:
After a nearly 3 year battle with ALS, our mom lost her life to this devastating and wretched disease just 1 month ago. Her whole life would be culminated in adjectives such as fiercely independent, giving, energetic, incredibly social and fun loving, and a woman who did absolutely ANYTHING for her kids and grandkids. Her final years would be marked by those same words...only multiplied. Afterall, it's the hardest of times that show what you're really made of -- and our mom was clearly cut from the finest of cloths. She didn't want to be fussed over and instead, in her own time of need, asked how she could help you, how you were doing, and worried much more about others living with this disease than she did herself. She was a fighter, determined not to let the inevitable systematic attacks of ALS bring her down or stop her from enjoying what she loved --their "prize patient". Some people might say "Why me?", my Moms response to this terminal diagnosis was "God chose me." A woman of extreme faith she never felt sorry for herself, only sorry for how her kids would hurt knowing what was happening to their mom. On the night of 3 July, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, siblings and many other loved ones, while the blast of fireworks rang outside her bedroom window (my parents favorite holiday), she made the sign of the cross and drew her final breaths rejoining our dad, Lloyd, her parents, sister Sally, and many other loved ones lost, for what was sure to be the most epic 4th of July celebration they'd ever had. We rejoiced for their reunion and an end to her extreme suffering; We mourned for the deep loss of our matriarch. Our rock. While clearing our moms home I came across a quote she had written down. It was just a simple quote scribbled down on a tattered piece of paper, but I kept it. My mom had taught us this philosophy since we were kids and I found it all too fitting...and a tad too surreal. "However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at." -Stephen Hawking So this is something I will do -- I will pledge that every year, from here on out, I will work to help fundraise for the ALS Association (even more than I have in the past). This disease is dreadfully underfunded and there are too many patients that don't have the coverage to handle the costs -- including the food required for their feeding tubes, medical supplies, in-home care....the list goes on. Our mom was at least fortunate to have that -- I cannot imagine what it would be like for those who don't. You'll see our Team Name -- "Mama Rie's Crusading Clan" pop up on your newsfeed every August for years to come for Omaha's Walk to Defeat ALS. If at anytime you find yourself fortunate enough to spare even a few dollars please consider a donation to help ease the hardships of those suffering from ALS, and hopefully one day soon -- find a cure.
Why We Need Your Help
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 a person with ALS 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.
ALS can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease, yet it still costs loved ones an average of $250,000 a year to provide the care people living with ALS and their families need. Join the movement to provide help and hope today!
