WHY IRENE WALKS
In my heart, I know my mom is aware of how much my family and I love her, but I wanted to give her a visual representation of our support. So, I wondered what I could do to show my mom the same unconditional love and support she has given me all my life. With one quick google search, I found the Seaside ALS Walk. Without second-guessing, I picked up my cell to call my siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles and registered my whole family. Everyone was on board. Then, it was time to let my parents know. Our family is private and tight knit. For a year, the immediate family and her first cousins were the only ones who knew of my mom’s diagnosis. This walk has given my mother the courage and voice to share her story outside the realm of our family. I’m in awe of my mother’s strength, faith, and vulnerability, for this is not easy information to share.
My mom is rare, before and after her ALS diagnosis.
My mother is the most gentle, selfless, and loving mother there is. There isn’t a day that I don’t feel her love. She supported my siblings and me throughout our years in all our endeavors. I will never forget that she sat on the bleachers for every one of our basketball and softball games, dance competitions, and wrestling matches. She was my personal tutor when schoolwork got too hard and the most creative person to look to when I needed help with school projects. We spent endless hours on the couch reviewing my Greek School lessons to ensure my pronunciation was on point. From a young girl, I always believed there was nothing my mom couldn’t do, and this belief has not wavered.
As my siblings and I got older, my mom decided to share her endless love with others and started to work at daycare. From the stories she told, I could tell the littles ones shared similar trust and love with her as well. She brought home projects to make, and I was always willing to help her create welcoming classroom art. Somewhere along the way, I followed in my mom’s footsteps and started working in a daycare. I brought home projects and created decorations for my classroom, just like my mom. Every time I do so, I can see the memories of working with children flood in. In addition, when the pandemic hit, our family’s diner needed extra help, and my mom came to the aid for a year until her diagnosis. She may have stopped working, but she never stopped being the most caring mom, aunt, and godmother.
IN 2023, WE WALKED IN REHOBOTH FOR...
| Alejandrina Vazquez Allen Hershey Andy and Stephen Zemba Anne Ristenbatt Artigas Pereyra Bill Garland Bill Goodman Carmen Vazquez Charles M. Flory Charlie Simcox and Jane Wong Dick Yohe Edna Parker Eleanor "Kay" Gerber Frank Swetz Gary G. Gaston Sr Glen Peterson Grammy Harold E. Sell |
Harold Getz Harry Washington Jack Kissinger James P. Fickes Joseph Giancoli Jr. Kathy Corby Kathy Neely Larry Holtry Lou Stoneberger Luis Reyes Marc Schefsky Mario Corradi Maryella Hagman Melinda Lefever Mia Wapinski Mike Deeley Mike Ross |
Molly Mancini My patients past, present, and future. Our clinic patients Paul Campbell Perry Thoman Randy Walker Richard Kelley Richard Wilhide Rick Rittenhouse Robert White Samuel Brown Sandra I Vazquez Tim Heitz Todd Sterner Veronica Peterson Vicki Gobrecht Yaivette Joneso |