Ingram family's journey with ALS

July 9, 2023 UPDATE: Derek just returned home from the hospital on Friday, from his second admission within less than 2 months. His lungs are filled with mucus, which he is having trouble clearing. His breathing challenges are stirring up significant anxiety attacks, which further exacerbate his ability to breathe. He is communicating through his Talk to Me device (a computer that allows him to still communicate without using his own voice). Derek and Amber have come to the realization that they need skilled, 24-hour care, as caregiving for Derek while caring for their three young children is exhausting Amber.

Costs for Derek’s care will rise significantly as they bring additional skilled caregivers into their home. So many have already done so much to support this amazing family, through prayers lifted and funds donated. If you feel led to do so, will you please share this campaign, and consider donating to defray the significant cost of additional needed care for Derek? Thank you for any support that you can offer.

THEIR STORY: To know Derek & Amber Ingram is to love them. And to know their story is to love them even more. Despite their trials and tribulations, they continue to lean on God and hold tightly to their faith. Their life together began when they married in 2014, with a bright future ahead of them. Two weeks before their wedding, Derek was diagnosed with a condition that could only be cured by his receiving a new liver, so he was put on a transplant waiting list. Holding onto the promise that God is good all the time, they stepped out in faith during their time of waiting and welcomed their first child in 2016. Derek was on the transplant list for over four years and received the miraculous gift of life from an organ donor on September 5, 2018. He recovered marvelously from the surgery, and his body thrived with the new liver.

Derek and Amber continued to grow their family and welcomed a daughter in 2020 and another daughter in 2021. Three days after their second daughter was born, Derek received the devastating diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS - also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). Symptoms began relatively mildly but have quickly progressed and intensified. His movement is now restricted to a power chair, and he is fed through a PEG tube. Despite these limitations, he remains fiercely optimistic that he will claim victory over this disease!

We believe that the Lord has a mighty plan for the Ingram family. As His hands and feet, we want to do all that we can to pray for, uplift and support this incredible family.

They have already weathered and overcome so much together. They have now spent virtually all of their savings on out-of-pocket medical expenses and treatments. Their needs are significant, and covering their staggering bills on what is now one salary is not possible.

We have set up this GoFundMe page, in hopes of raising funds to help offset the expense of Derek’s medical treatment and care. Will you please offer assistance as you are able, and share this page with others who might be interested in doing the same? We want to help them however possible: through lifting them in prayer, reducing their financial burden, and offering messages of encouragement on this page.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13