Critical ALS Care for My Aunt
My aunt is 63 years old and has been battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), specifically progressive bulbar palsy, for over a year and a half. Since her diagnosis, our family has been caring for her at home with love and dedication. As a second-year nursing student, I have personally been helping care for her throughout this journey.
Because of progressive bulbar palsy, she gradually lost her ability to swallow and had to undergo a PEG tube insertion so she could receive nutrition. Recently, her condition worsened, and she suddenly lost the ability to breathe on her own. She was rushed to the emergency room, where she had to be intubated, and later underwent a tracheostomy to keep her airway open.
She is now dependent on life-support equipment to stay alive. As the hospital prepares for her discharge, we are facing an overwhelming challenge: bringing the care she needs into our home. We urgently need to rent a home ventilator, oxygen concentrator, oxygen tanks, suction machine, hospital bed, air mattress, and other essential medical supplies. She also requires formula feeding, diapers, and continuous care every single day.
One of our biggest struggles is electricity. We live in Lebanon, where electricity is not available 24/7. The medical equipment she depends on must run at all times—without interruption. A power outage could put her life at immediate risk. To keep her safe, we need to secure around-the-clock electricity with enough power capacity to support her ventilator, oxygen, and other machines, which comes at a very high cost.
The financial burden of her medical care, equipment, and electricity has become far beyond what our family can manage alone. We are doing everything we can to keep her comfortable, cared for, and at home surrounded by family, but we cannot do this without help.
Any contribution, no matter how small, would mean the world to us and could directly help keep her alive, comfortable, and safe. If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would also be a great help.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and support.
