I made a promise to myself as I watched my Mother waste away from ALS that I would do whatever I could to help find a cure for this disease. This section is my perception and experience with ALS. This disease is gruesome and depressing and that is why I feel so strongly about this cause. I feel it I owe it to mom to tell the world exactly what ALS is and what it does. Otherwise ALS will remain that disease that many people never even knew existed.

This disease is not selective at all and what I am about to describe below could happen to anyone. There is very little known about the disease and it is very hard to diagnose. It affects men and women of all ethnic groups and all ages. Although ALS is most common in late adulthood, it can strike anyone at any time. Many have been diagnosed in their prime, but ALS has also been reported in some teens.

In just 15 months time my mother went from a normal, healthy woman to a frail and fragile woman confined to a hospital bed, unable to move, speak, swallow or breath. My Mother died at the age of 58 from this disease. She was a very active and outgoing lady. She never missed seeing her grandchildren at dance competitions, modeling shows, or ball games.

This disease took a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend etc… My mother loved to watch my daughter, Haley, on stage. She traveled all over with us to see her. Therefore, Haley and I hope to raise awareness and money for ALS research, through the organization we have named Modeling for Muscles. Every grandmother thinks their grandchildren are the best and my Mother always told Haley she would be a famous “Movie Star” someday. Whether that ever happens or not, we feel that this is a way to honor her life and what she loved.

You just don’t realize how important your muscles are until they no longer work. What would you do if you you could no longer raise your arm to scratch your nose or wipe a tear from your child’s eyes? What if you could no longer hug or even hold your loved ones hand? How would you feel to lose your ability to speak and say hello or I love you? Even worse, what if you couldn’t move at all and you needed something and couldn’t speak or were in pain but couldn’t tell anyone where or what was hurting? This disease affects every voluntary muscle in your body.