Ryan's Story
My brother was diagnosed in April of 2023. I will never forget the look on his face and the sound of his cry when he told me that he had Motor Neuron Disease. I prayed so hard that he had one of the milder Motor Neuron Diseases. My heart broke three months later when he was confirmed to have ALS. We were not prepared for how quickly the disease progressed. By the end of August, he was no longer able to feed himself. He needed a walker and wheelchair by October. When his birthday came around in January, he had lost the ability to walk. Within six months he lost his ability to speak and in July he took his last breath. Being a nurse, my brother knew how ugly this disease would be and the struggles he would face. My heart broke with each tear he shed knowing that I could not do anything to stop or slow down his suffering.
So in his memory, I (along with his friends and our family) will be walking in his honor. It takes approximately $200,000 to take care of someone for one year with ALS. Insurance does not cover all of the medications (with some ALS medications costing approximately $15,000 per month). As a person progresses and needs more help, they have to pay home health aids out-of-pocket. Not everyone was as fortunate as my brother to have friends and family take care of them.
I hope that through research ALS will become chronic instead of fatal. Watching a loved one deteriorate in front of your eyes is torture knowing that you cannot do anything to prevent their pain or progression.
Please consider walking with me or sponsoring me. With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by this disease.
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Achievements
No Badges Have Been Earned
Personal Progress:
of Goal
$1,041
Raised
$20,000.00
Fundraising Honor Roll
Walk for Ryan
$212
Estefania Garber
Melissa Warren
$103
Ryan Jenkins
$103
Courtney Warren
Alfreda Smith
$51
Allan
$51
Anonymous
Gloria J
$51
Lisa Pinder
$51
Kristin Hofmann
Shaitra
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