Cases 91-93: As man's ALS progresses, his family struggles

By Margaret Gillerman
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
12/18/2008

Case 91
Mr. Z, a loving father and a husband, is hooked up to a ventilator to survive. Because of his illness, he is unable to walk, talk, feed or care for himself. At 48, he has ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a heartless, progressive, degenerative neuromuscular disease that paralyzes and is always fatal.

Mr. Z’s wife and 15-year-old son are committed to caring for him at home. His teenage son is being home-schooled so he can attend to his father during the day while Mrs. Z works to earn the family income and keep health care. The son watches every day as his father — his hero — declines physically, emotionally and cognitively.

Even with Mrs. Z’s job, the family doesn’t have enough money to meet basic household costs, and worries constantly about food, the house payment and medical bills. This struggling family would greatly appreciate home computer accessories that Mr. Z could use to communicate. Mr. and Mrs. Z would appreciate any financial help to provide for their son and allow them to keep their home.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Checks should be made out to 100 Neediest Cases and sent to:

100 Neediest Cases

P.O. Box 955925

St. Louis, Mo. 63195-5925

To adopt a family, call 314-421-6060 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays or go to the website 100neediestcases.org.




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