On June 14th, I'll be participating in the Walk to End ALS in Mom's honour. For every $10 donated, I'll share a story about Mom on my social media accounts: FaceBook and Instagram. Remembering and talking or writing about all of Mom's love is a way for me to heal in her honour.  For some extra fun, I'm also taking over the idea of June Dresses and committing to wearing a dress every day in June. Who needs pants anyway?!

We lost Mom on August 27, 2024 after watching her muscles slowly deteriorate, over a two-year time period, until she lost all control over her body. We received unofficial diagnosis in August of 2022 and confirmation in November 2022. Life expectancy (one year to 18 months) was slightly less than what we were ultimately blessed with. I can relive the moment when Mom asked me to sit down before she told me the news; I was playing, joyfully, outside with my then almost three year old. I've only cried harder once in my life!

ALS/MND research has come a long way because of fundraisers like this! Mom qualified to try an experimental drug - I can't even remember now, but I'm fairly confident that each dose (or maybe each month supply) was valued at $20,000 - covered by the research program (or something) because we never actually paid anything. Mom took the liquid mixture faithfully every day; it made her increasingly nauseous and fatigued as the months progressed on the medication. Shortly after Christmas 2023, Mom stopped the medication; the side effects impacted her quality of life too negatively. A few months into 2024, the drug was recalled for ineffectiveness. We tried. 

Mom's neurologist spoke to us about patients of his who were positively impacted by the drug. This means the research that the Walk to End ALS fundraises for is getting life-changing results! We just need more research, which requires fundraising like this and donations like yours.

The ALS Society of Manitoba provided Mom with a walker, transfer chair, regular supply of Boost in all three flavours (big deal when the chalky thick liquid was Mom's main source of nutrition), home safety equipment, and more support than we ever could have expected. All of that was free because of fundraisers like this and donations like yours. 

Mom's "Team": Neurologist, Respiratory Specialist, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech Therapist, Social Worker, and Nutritionist who all came together on a Tuesday every week for the MND Clinic at Deer Lodge Centre, was able to come together in one place for the sake of all patients - and especially for Mom, who travelled four hours to and from Winnipeg for each appointment - because of fundraisers like this and donations like yours.

For Mom, help me fundraise, and donate!