Wife Stays Strong After Husband Dies Of Lou Gehrig's Disease

POSTED: 3:43 pm EDT July 11, 2008


ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- A St. Johns County family who had to deal with chronic illness of both the father and one of their children is now dealing with grief.

Kenny Goodall lost his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease Thursday night, just over a month after the community rallied to help him and his family.

His wife, Karen, said the fact that she knew it was coming doesn't diminish the pain of his death.


"Even though I didn't know how it was going to happen, I knew, and I've had two years to prepare for this moment," Karen Goodall said. "He was a very loving husband, very gentle man and terrific father."

Earlier this year, the Goodall's oldest son, Kollin, was diagnosed with leukemia. Kollin had been hospitalized for the past two weeks, but with his doctor's permission, he was able to say a final goodbye to his dad.

"I was concerned with how he would be able to handle it, but doctor let him out, let him see Kenny," Karen Goodall said. "I think that's when Kenny let go."

On Memorial Day, the community rallied together to support a bike ride to assist the family. Proceeds from the ride allowed their house to be made wheelchair-accessible.

To keep the parents and their six children going strong, the volunteers had words of encouragement framed: "You cannot cripple love, shatter hope. It cannot corrode their faith."

This wife and mother said she'll have her moments and challenges, but knows that she'll be OK.

"I am so at peace with this, I never wanted to see him suffer," she told Channel 4's Ashley Townsend. "I'm going to miss him, but I'm glad he's gone home to be with the Lord. He's got a new body and a new home and I know he's smiling down on us now."

The family had not announced funeral arrangements.

Funds to help the Goodall family are being collected by their church: Mills Creek Baptist.

Donations can be made to the church: 6019a State Road 16, St. Augustine, FL 32092. Their phone number is 904-940-9833.

If you donate by check, make it payable to the church, but put "Goodall Family" in the memo line.