Marcos Encarnacion

Family and friends of Marcos Encarnacion are raising money to help Marcos with medical expenses not covered by insurance.

About Marcos’s ALS Journey

Marcos Encarnacion is 49, turning 50 on October 11th. He was diagnosed with ALS on October 3rd, just one day after his youngest child Maddie’s 10th birthday and 8 days before his 49th birthday. Despite the cards he has been dealt, Marcos lives and thrives outside of his diagnosis. Before October 3rd, Marcos lived his life of multiple roles: A son to his two parents in Mexico, a brother to his 2 older and 2 younger siblings, a friend to his coworkers, a husband to his wife, and a father to his three kids. Despite how much this disease tries to take these roles away from the people who live with it, Marcos has not stopped fighting to be present in every single aspect of his life.

Marcos first started experiencing symptoms in January of 2022 right after he contracted COVID for the first time. He would experience muscle twitching and spasms within his legs and arms. Some painful, some just inconveniencing, but all alarming. They would happen suddenly and he would have to stop and wait for the spasm to resolve on its own. Eventually as the spasms persisted, he started to lose his range of motion in his right arm and he couldn’t lift it above his shoulder. With the loss in range of motion came a loss of strength. He couldn’t carry as heavy things as he used to be able to. His medical team at the time determined it was a pinched nerve in his spine and that he needed surgery to fix it. On May 31st, 2023, he had a cervical disk replacement (surgery) expecting this surgery paired with physical therapy during recovery to get him back to the range in motion and strength he was once at. He returned to work and hoped for the best, but symptoms only progressed from there and his left arm only got weaker. Eventually it started affecting his legs and after multiple doctor visits of him persisting he needed to be tested for ALS, he was diagnosed on October 3rd. On October 10th, he went for a second opinion and got the same diagnosis. On November 19, he went for a third opinion with Dr. Rosenfeld at Loma Linda’s Center for restorative Neurology and received the same diagnosis, but also received a lot more hope. Dr. Rosenfeld said while he does have ALS, he is progressing slowly and has the chance to have a long (long for patients with this disease) and fulfilling life. he went on to get a surgery for G-Tube placement while his lung capacity was above 50% so it would be less risky.

Marcos is blessed with a slow progression and access to medications and equipment like a power wheelchair and BiPAP machines that will improve his quality of life significantly, but his family is struggling to come up with the funding to cover all of the equipment and medicine he may need while also putting two kids through college and planning fun outings to check things off Marcos’ bucket list while he still can. Marcos is still in need of a wheelchair accessible van, a bed that goes up and down to help him get out of bed independently in the morning, and many other home modifications to make his home wheelchair accessible. He also needs help covering his copays, deductibles from his medical appointments and surgeries, smaller medical supplies like bulk surgical tape and syringes for his G-Tube and eventually, formula.

This diagnosis has rocked Marcos and his family’s world. Here are some personal statements.

Yamilet: In Progress

Dominique: In Progress

Catherine: In Progress

Madeleine: In Progress

About Marcos

Marcos came to California at 9 years old from Mexico. He currently lives in the Inland Empire but grew up in Bell Gardens and Ontario. He loves the Lakers so whenever he has to choose a color for something he’ll choose purple or yellow. He finds comfort in homecooked meals and especially loves pasta. His favorite past time is gaming, he’s a pro at Clash of Clans and will pick up any game you’re playing just to beat you. He loves sports and would’ve love to meet Kobe Bryant, his favorite player. He says he loves all music but rolls his eyes at country. Before retirement, he was an electrician at California Steel Industries. He has four siblings and three children. He’s the glue of his family; always the house that family meets at and everyone’s favorite. Between his humor and his ability to listen, Marcos is easy to be around. He always knows how to make light of a heavy situation, so he coined his new catchphrase: “As Serious As ALS” and never fails to deliver it without a smile.