I have been so busy trying to manage our new way of life, and through covid, and virtual schooling I have not shared or promoted the ALS Walk event like I have in the past. I think back to Veteran’s day 2017. We planned to go out to lunch and take our 3 yo on the National wheel like we did the year before. Then we got a call from his doctors and said he needed to come right in. I will never forget the looks on their faces. It was a look I had never seen before, but one I would see from countless people from then on. They told us a likely diagnosis was ALS. He had some symptoms that did not align, but they had ruled out almost everything else. I cried all night in my uncomfortable hospital visitor bed. I woke up looking like Rocky after his fight with Apollo Creed. The next day we decided to be optimistic. To hope for those last few illnesses they didn’t rule out. We hoped for Cancer!!! Yes, you read that right. Not to take away from anyone who has suffered or been lost from Cancer, but at least you have a fight. ALS there is no fight, a fight to live on best you can yes! But not a fight to beat it. So we spent the next few months, the last few months he had to live life with his limited but still present abilities, at the hospital most days getting treatments. We wanted to live out the holidays being positive. We hoped he would be a miracle case one for the medical journals. We got a second opinion from John’s Hopkins. February 2nd a Harvard specialist came to Walter Reed to review his case and lecture the doctors. We were leaving for Minneapolis that day to see our teams meet in the Super Bowl (thanks to amazing people who helped make it happen). We didn’t want to know her conclusion. We wanted to enjoy our experience. The trip had many challenges with Allen wheel chair bound. It was hard but in hindsight it was so easy. He got to live a dream watching his Eagles win the super bowl. We returned home to an ALS diagnosis. Our world quickly changed (it had already but it moved more quickly). We tried to do and experience everything we could! We got in a lot that spring and summer! Some trips and visits with/from so many friends! Until we became home bound in July. That July he had declined so fast they gave him 3-6 months. His wish was to make it to watch his daughter Karlijn walk across the stage at her HS graduation in June. It was a very tough time for us, more then he let on to outsiders. But he made it and beyond. He made it to Kiko’s dance recital and even participated in the father daughter dance! (I have no idea how he mustered the strength and resilience to get through that). He made it to his granddaughters 1st birthday 7/2 and Kiko’s 5th birthday 7/28. August his fight was coming to an end. He was the most brave, selfless, amazing human I have ever seen. I am so thankful I was blessed to be his wife. I will love and cherish him forever. We live on for him. We live our Dash in his memory.

We are waking to defeat ALS. Please donate so other families can have a fight.💙

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 two to five 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, though support is bringing researchers closer to an answer. In the meantime it costs an average of $250,000 a year to provide the care people living with ALS and their families need. Join the movement to bring help and hope today!

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