A.L.S. attacks Fritel Family

Garth Fritel, the loving, involved, and incredible father in this beautiful family was diagnosed in February 2017 with A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig's Disease). 

He and his family are reeling and adjusting to their new reality:  Garth has limited time with motor control, walking, dressing and caring for himself and his family physically.  Statiscally the average lifespan after diagnosis is 2-5 years. 
At an A.L.S. support group Garth and his loving wife, Adeline, began learning much of what is to come.  Some important advice they received is they should stay ahead of the disease, preparing home and needed equipment to be ready for the progression of the disease.  They have begun making some of the difficult decisions and changes, thinking always of how to keep life as "normal," happy, meaningful and rich as they can for their adorable daughters, Daphne and Tovah, and for themselves.  In answer to this Garth's parents have moved from 2 states away to live with the family to help provide care for their children and eventually help provide care for Garth.

Another piece of advice from the support group:   Try to do everything on your bucket list soon, while you are able.  Within a short time of receiving that counsel, Garth took 4 year old Daphne to an enchanting Daddy-Daughter dance (Daphne in her beautiful formal, and Daddy in his rented tux). 

When I heard about the bucket list advice and this dance, I had been praying for weeks wondering what I could do to support this beautiful family.  It finally came to me.  This Go Fund Me project is designed to help make their bucket list happen, and help create more treasured family experiences that will mean so much to all of them. 

Garth and Adeline are hard-working, independent, and positive people.  It took some reasoning and then a few weeks for them to allow me to do this.  Statistics indicate that caring for an ALS patient exceeds $150,000.00 per year. They are coming to realize that with needed modifications to their home to make it wheel-chair ready, other expenses that will arise, and eventually losing Garth's income, making that bucket list happen could create difficulties in other areas.  At the very least, it would be adding financial stress to an already challenging situation. 

Let's help Garth, Adeline, Daphne, and Tovah enjoy their bucket list together in joy while they can.  We need to make this happen quickly.  Garth is already finding it difficult to walk.  Going up stairs is quite challenging.  And yet his motto is "There is a lot of life left to live... and a lot to live for!"  Please consider donating whatever you can, small or large.  And please share this to help us get the word out.  If there are funds left after the bucket list is accomplished, there will be plenty of other expenses to put them toward!

Here is Garth's story in his own words (only slightly sensored) ;) from a letter he wrote recently:

Last year, almost to the day, I was building our daughters an epic swing set. As I was manipulating 2x4’s and beams, I started to notice that my right hand was losing its ability to grip as firmly as it should. I would hold a 2x4 and suddenly my thumb would give out. It was awkward yet painless. I finished the playset and didn’t really think too much of it. A few weeks later, I dropped a pan of lasagna due to my thumb giving out again. Weird, right? That finally got me to my doctor and he indicated it was probably carpal tunnel. Because it was painless, only caused me occasional grief and I am a dude, I of course ignored it all summer. However, I also started noticing that my mountain bike trail that I usually conquer pretty quickly was taking longer and I was unable to make it to the top as frequently as I was accustomed to. I just figured it was the beer, pizza and the fact that I am [dang] near 40 so it was simply me being a bit out of shape… which is totally true, no denying.

Last fall my thumb started to become a regular nuisance, it was difficult shifting my rear gears (right hand for you non-cyclists ;) ) because my thumb was not strong enough to engage the shifter appropriately. I went to a specialist and it was determined that it was not carpal tunnel, but in fact motor neuron disease (MND). Being a medical professional, I knew that 60-70% of all MND ends up being ALS and to get this figured out will require months of lab work, testing and MRI’s. One of the diseases they evaluate when presented with MND is the possibility of HIV. I never would have believed that one day I would be praying that I simply have HIV rather than terminal neurological illness. I remember the day I received the notification that my results are in and I prayed I only had AIDS. What a [crappy] prayer, right!

Well, it’s not HIV unfortunately (such a [messed] up statement but true nonetheless). After months of trying to identify the cause of MND, it was determined that I have ALS. I was officially diagnosed with it toward the end of February.

So, what does it mean to have ALS? Statistically speaking, the average lifespan after an ALS diagnosis is 2-5 years, the probability of seeing 10 years is ~10%. Devastating. I can deal with the upcoming physical limitations, I am already starting to deal with them now. I can handle the fact that in a few months, I won’t be able to wipe my own [butt], fortunately I work with some amazing nurses who can help me out with this . I understand and accept the fact that this summer when we go to Silverwood, I will require a scooter or an electric wheelchair as I can no longer walk long distances; hell, Daphne legitimately beats me in footraces in the back yard! I realize that this past March was the last time snowboarding with my beautiful wife Adeline and 4 year old Daphne, I will not be able to teach my 15 month old Tovah how to ‘pizza’ and ‘french fry’ down the mountain. I can understand and accept all of this.What I struggle with is the knowledge that chances are I will not be around to pick up my daughters after their first heartbreak. I want to take pictures at their 1st Homecoming and Prom dances, but that opportunity is slim. I want to see them graduate high school and college, walk them down the aisle at their wedding however I know it is probably not meant to be.I had planned on growing old with my wife and enjoying some rocking chair on the porch time, but I will have to settle for a wheelchair and a ventilator. I can wrap my head around what is happening to me physically, but seeing how this will affect the people I love is devastating. I am not a broken man, but, I am heartbroken.
... Turns out I have several things to ask you:
1. Hug your family, then hug them again
2. Evaluate your frequency of ‘I love you’s’, now double it
3. Drink more wine
4. Let your kid get that last drink of water at night, it’s really not a big deal
5. Hug your family, again
6. When that [butthead] in the other lane is trying merge into yours, maybe you can let them in and perhaps they’re not [a butthead]
7. Love each other, life’s too short for hatred and despair.

Thank you very much, now go hug someone.
Garth

Let's help Garth enjoy his bucket list activities with his family right away, while he is able.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!