In February 2018, Marlena was in a car accident after which her body began to deteriorate. Within just 3 years, at 39 years old, Marlena has lost all voluntary leg movement and most of her core strength and arm mobility. It began with drop foot on her left, in 2018, which gradually took over her entire leg as well as her right. By August 2020 she was predominantly in a wheelchair and by the winter she required her chair to get around 100%. On August 9, 2021, after many doctors ruled out every other possibility, Marlena was diagnosed with ALS.

Over the last three years Marlena, her husband Tim, and the rest of our family have adjusted to each new challenge presented by her condition while holding on to the hope that someday doctors would be able to reverse the damage done to her body. Unfortunately, there is no cure or treatment for ALS. This means that more permanent solutions to these growing challenges need to be implemented, and funded, to help Marlena live a more comfortable and complete life while also ensuring her safety and reducing some of the accompanying stress on her and Tim. Chief among these solutions are a wheelchair accessible vehicle and an addition onto the ground floor of their home that would allow for an accessible bathroom and bedroom.

Our first priority is a wheelchair accessible vehicle, which is not covered by insurance in the least, to get her to and from doctor appointments. This purchase is a necessity, too, for her safety and wellbeing, as well as Tim’s, who has to lift her from her chair into the car and out again. When being lifted, Marlena can offer no assistance. As you will see in the accompanying video, she is unable to even hold her arms above Tim’s shoulders. With winter right around the corner, the risk of injury to both of them will rise exponentially.