Help Joe LaPietra as he battles ALS!

Our dear friend, Joe LaPietra, recently received the shocking and life-altering diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This tragic diagnosis has been devastating for Joe, his wife Ellyn, their children Emily, Samantha, Olivia, and their extended family and close friends. At present, there are no treatments that can permanently halt the progression of the disease and there is no cure.

Joe is currently under the care of Strong and Mass General Hospital in Boston, where he is participating in the Sean Healey Platform Trial in hopes of slowing the progression of the disease. His participation in this trial requires monthly trips to Boston. While Joe and Ellyn have health insurance, finances are being stretched beyond their limits because (both surprisingly and disappointingly) health insurance covers little in the way of medicine, equipment, and palliative care needed for ALS patients. These costs, in ADDITION to the monthly cost of travel and accommodations for Boston, are all out-of-pocket.

Adding to their burden, in March of 2021, Ellyn left her long-time career as a Social Worker to become Joe's full-time caregiver. This GoFundMe campaign has been created to rally support for Joe and Ellyn and to relieve as much financial stress for them as possible.

When hearing of a friend or loved one facing a life-changing situation, people often ask, “What can I do?” To quote Edward Everett Hale, a prominent Boston Unitarian minister, “I am only one but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."

Joe is one of the kindest, most compassionate, and generous people on the planet. He is a devoted son, husband, father, brother, and friend. To know Joe, is to be his friend. He is always willing to go out of his way to help others, but never comfortable asking for help in return. But help him we must. Now is the time to “do something” by supporting this effort. Making a donation, in whatever amount feels comfortable, will make an enormous difference to Joe and his family as they start to navigate this new and utterly terrifying reality.

Thank you so much for opening your heart and donating to this effort. Your support means the world to the LaPietra family.