McMechen Woman With A.L.S. Needs Help To Stay Mobile
Posted Thursday, July 24, 2008 ; 03:47 PM
Updated Thursday, July 24, 2008 ; 08:23 PM

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A woman diagnosed with a devastating illness has difficulty getting up the steps to her home.
Story by D.K. Wright
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MCMECHEN -- Debbie McMahon of McMechen was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis five months ago.

Now it's difficult for her to get up the steps into her home, which is on a steep hillside.

Debbie and her husband own a business--TSB Building Systems in Bridgeport.

She has always had an active role in that business.

Now she needs a wheelchair lift at her home to help her get to work and back.

You have to climb 20 steep steps to get to the McMahon's home on Caldwell Street.

So Debbie's family and friends have started installing a wheelchari lift, that will take her from her street level garage, to her home above.

"I've had to cut my work down to three days a week just because of the difficulty of the steps," she explains. "So I'll be able to go back full time. And I'll be able to go wherever I want to go, when I want to go, independently. Which is a big thing for me."

The project is expensive.

So they're holding a pasta dinner fundraiser August 2 at 6 p.m.at the McMechen VFD Community Building.

Debbie says her family and friends are wonderful, and so is the community of McMechen.

"It's a wonderful town," she says. "We've heard from people from all over, sending donations--people I never would have expected--they're wonderful. Small towns are really the best, as far as I'm concerned."

Tickets for the fund-raiser are $10.00, and include dinner and live entertainment.

To make a donation, send your check or money order to: Debbie McMahon Benefit, BB & T Bank, 418 Jefferson Avenue, Moundsville, WV 26041, or for more information, call (304) 233-1381.

And watch Fox Ohio Valley on Labor Day weekend for the MDA telethon, where Debbie's story will be highlighted.



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