David Laubacher's Fight Against ALS
Donation protected
Hi all,
I am organizing this fund on behalf of my uncle, David Laubacher. Here is his story.
MY STORY
The past two years has taken on a life or death purpose with my life since my diagnosis of ALS in April 2018. I went from living in a beautiful city, state and comfortable lifestyle, to disability and fighting for my life and my control of the most basic things in life.
ABOUT ME
I grew up in a small town and in a state (Ohio) where sports were very popular - the main interest for most kids at that time. Football was my passion and I knew the in’s & outs of the game even though my small body frame did not lend itself in helping me in my pursuit to play the sport. My junior and senior season I stood at 5’9” and weighed 152lbs.I had pretty good hands with decent speed and was fairly coordinated, catching the ball was something that came natural to me and this allowed me to compete with the bigger guys I teamed with and played against.
The other piece of good fortune I had in my favor was a head coach who believed in me and I trusted. Coach Don Clarico devised a multifaceted offensive attack that placed me at the quarterback position when we ran the option-run offense. I would switch to halfback when we ran the ball from a basic run offense and move to split-end in a pro-set style when we wanted to throw the football bringing in our sophomore quarterback who had a strong arm. My senior year I was awarded the team’s MVP and All Conference League honors at the safety position. Oh yea, I played defense and returned punts too.
COLLEGE & PROFESSIONAL
Following my passion along with my growth spurt to 6’3” and 218 lbs., I walked-on at University of Akron where I became a 3-year letterman as defensive back and punt returner for the Zips. I played for HC Gordon Larsen (FR & SO years) and HC Jim Dennison (JR & SN years).
After college I had brief stints in both the World Football League (Memphis Southman) and the National Football League (Washington Redskins). I had the distinct pleasure of being teammates with many well-known players & coaches: WFL – Larry Czonka, Jim Kiick & Paul Warfield / NFL – Coach George Allen, Calvin Hill (RB), Ken Houston (S), John Riggins (RB), Chris Hanburger (LB), CharleyTaylor (WR). All are in the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
My football passion would end with me playing 3 years for the Semi-Pro football team known as the Tuscarawas County Vikings (OHIO). Some of my many accomplishments as a Viking included: playing both offense and defense, making 4 interceptions as a defensive back in a game against the Columbus Winds, defeating the Canton Bulldogs on last minute pass receptions as a wide receiver in 3 of the 4 games that were played in consecutive years.
SOFTBALL
Playing softball helped take the place of football. I played competitively for Ohio these local teams Jay’s (Alliance, Ohio) and Walther’s Café (Canton, Ohio). Colorado local teams included: Master Collision, Denver Merchants, Tate’s Pizza, Softball West, TPS, Pilcher’s Ultimate 50’s. I was inducted into Colorado’s USSSA Softball Hall of Fame (2007).
ALS
Approximately 30,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS at any one time, which translates to about one diagnosis or death every 90 seconds! Patients are left with very little time to fight for access or to advocate, because as fast as one American is diagnosed, another dies. The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is roughly 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis, with about 50% of the patients living more than 3 years, albeit with terrible difficulty and great expense.
Since my diagnosis I have been keeping busy fighting for “policy change” and “early access to promising treatments” for all ALS patients. Recently, there were 2 new bills introduced for ALS: HR.7071 and S.3872. Also, recently the National Institute of Health introduced an award program that will dedicate $25 million over 5 years to ALS research.
I have also been busy in the ALS field researching for the latest developments, techniques and cures through Functional Medicine Doctors. There are several promising drugs (AMX0035) for treatment that will be in their Phase 3 trials in the very near future. In addition there is a very promising stem cell treatment (NurOwn) which will be sharing their results in the coming weeks and hopefully FDA approval. Unfortunately, none of these drugs are covered by insurance until the FDA approves them. That process can take a minimum of 6 months to a year and other promising drugs are still probably 2 to 3 years out for FDA approval.
Consequently, I need to be prepared for anything and I am so fortunate for all of the love and support I have received thus far. I am reaching out to all of my friends and relatives to help me financially in my fight with this disease. I will be working with a neurologist and a nutrient-a-list specializing in “functional medicine” to try and offset what my body is doing. Unfortunately my insurance does not cover these types of expenses. Please remember that all proceeds are going towards my treatment and care. This will also help me continue to advocate and raise awareness for ALS.
Itemized Annual Cost of ALS treatments/therapies are as follows:
· Supplements / Medicines = $500 monthly / $6,000 yearly
· Neurologist / Nutrient-a-list = $750 monthly / $9,000 yearly
· Physical Therapy = $250 monthly / $3,000 yearly
· Dentistry to replace Mercury/Amalgam fillings = $500 to $750 monthly / $6k to $9k yearly
STATUS
I am doing pretty well and trying to stay positive, doing all I can to stay as healthy and strong as possible. Currently I am staying active by pursuing physical cardio workouts designed to keep my muscles and body in the best possible condition under the circumstances. I am currently actively walking and taking care of my personal needs as best I can.
I follow a strict protocol of supplements and special food diet, trying to be very careful about what goes into my body. However, despite all of this, ALS is frick’in relentless. I am continuing to get weaker in my hands, arms, core and legs. The nonstop fasciculation’s (muscle twitches) are tiring and continuing to spread to different parts of my body. My athletic background has helped with the discipline needed to fight this disease, but by far this is most difficult challenge I have encountered in my entire life. I am trying to control what I can control and just take it one day at a time.
Feel free to copy/paste this link in email or text to family and friends who may not have access to it via social media:
gofundme.com/f/jddtu-fighting-als
Again, thank you to everyone! Your consideration to donate to my cause, messages, emails, letters, texts and phone calls with your unwavering support is very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
David
I am organizing this fund on behalf of my uncle, David Laubacher. Here is his story.
MY STORY
The past two years has taken on a life or death purpose with my life since my diagnosis of ALS in April 2018. I went from living in a beautiful city, state and comfortable lifestyle, to disability and fighting for my life and my control of the most basic things in life.
ABOUT ME
I grew up in a small town and in a state (Ohio) where sports were very popular - the main interest for most kids at that time. Football was my passion and I knew the in’s & outs of the game even though my small body frame did not lend itself in helping me in my pursuit to play the sport. My junior and senior season I stood at 5’9” and weighed 152lbs.I had pretty good hands with decent speed and was fairly coordinated, catching the ball was something that came natural to me and this allowed me to compete with the bigger guys I teamed with and played against.
The other piece of good fortune I had in my favor was a head coach who believed in me and I trusted. Coach Don Clarico devised a multifaceted offensive attack that placed me at the quarterback position when we ran the option-run offense. I would switch to halfback when we ran the ball from a basic run offense and move to split-end in a pro-set style when we wanted to throw the football bringing in our sophomore quarterback who had a strong arm. My senior year I was awarded the team’s MVP and All Conference League honors at the safety position. Oh yea, I played defense and returned punts too.
COLLEGE & PROFESSIONAL
Following my passion along with my growth spurt to 6’3” and 218 lbs., I walked-on at University of Akron where I became a 3-year letterman as defensive back and punt returner for the Zips. I played for HC Gordon Larsen (FR & SO years) and HC Jim Dennison (JR & SN years).
After college I had brief stints in both the World Football League (Memphis Southman) and the National Football League (Washington Redskins). I had the distinct pleasure of being teammates with many well-known players & coaches: WFL – Larry Czonka, Jim Kiick & Paul Warfield / NFL – Coach George Allen, Calvin Hill (RB), Ken Houston (S), John Riggins (RB), Chris Hanburger (LB), CharleyTaylor (WR). All are in the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
My football passion would end with me playing 3 years for the Semi-Pro football team known as the Tuscarawas County Vikings (OHIO). Some of my many accomplishments as a Viking included: playing both offense and defense, making 4 interceptions as a defensive back in a game against the Columbus Winds, defeating the Canton Bulldogs on last minute pass receptions as a wide receiver in 3 of the 4 games that were played in consecutive years.
SOFTBALL
Playing softball helped take the place of football. I played competitively for Ohio these local teams Jay’s (Alliance, Ohio) and Walther’s Café (Canton, Ohio). Colorado local teams included: Master Collision, Denver Merchants, Tate’s Pizza, Softball West, TPS, Pilcher’s Ultimate 50’s. I was inducted into Colorado’s USSSA Softball Hall of Fame (2007).
ALS
Approximately 30,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS at any one time, which translates to about one diagnosis or death every 90 seconds! Patients are left with very little time to fight for access or to advocate, because as fast as one American is diagnosed, another dies. The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is roughly 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis, with about 50% of the patients living more than 3 years, albeit with terrible difficulty and great expense.
Since my diagnosis I have been keeping busy fighting for “policy change” and “early access to promising treatments” for all ALS patients. Recently, there were 2 new bills introduced for ALS: HR.7071 and S.3872. Also, recently the National Institute of Health introduced an award program that will dedicate $25 million over 5 years to ALS research.
I have also been busy in the ALS field researching for the latest developments, techniques and cures through Functional Medicine Doctors. There are several promising drugs (AMX0035) for treatment that will be in their Phase 3 trials in the very near future. In addition there is a very promising stem cell treatment (NurOwn) which will be sharing their results in the coming weeks and hopefully FDA approval. Unfortunately, none of these drugs are covered by insurance until the FDA approves them. That process can take a minimum of 6 months to a year and other promising drugs are still probably 2 to 3 years out for FDA approval.
Consequently, I need to be prepared for anything and I am so fortunate for all of the love and support I have received thus far. I am reaching out to all of my friends and relatives to help me financially in my fight with this disease. I will be working with a neurologist and a nutrient-a-list specializing in “functional medicine” to try and offset what my body is doing. Unfortunately my insurance does not cover these types of expenses. Please remember that all proceeds are going towards my treatment and care. This will also help me continue to advocate and raise awareness for ALS.
Itemized Annual Cost of ALS treatments/therapies are as follows:
· Supplements / Medicines = $500 monthly / $6,000 yearly
· Neurologist / Nutrient-a-list = $750 monthly / $9,000 yearly
· Physical Therapy = $250 monthly / $3,000 yearly
· Dentistry to replace Mercury/Amalgam fillings = $500 to $750 monthly / $6k to $9k yearly
STATUS
I am doing pretty well and trying to stay positive, doing all I can to stay as healthy and strong as possible. Currently I am staying active by pursuing physical cardio workouts designed to keep my muscles and body in the best possible condition under the circumstances. I am currently actively walking and taking care of my personal needs as best I can.
I follow a strict protocol of supplements and special food diet, trying to be very careful about what goes into my body. However, despite all of this, ALS is frick’in relentless. I am continuing to get weaker in my hands, arms, core and legs. The nonstop fasciculation’s (muscle twitches) are tiring and continuing to spread to different parts of my body. My athletic background has helped with the discipline needed to fight this disease, but by far this is most difficult challenge I have encountered in my entire life. I am trying to control what I can control and just take it one day at a time.
Feel free to copy/paste this link in email or text to family and friends who may not have access to it via social media:
gofundme.com/f/jddtu-fighting-als
Again, thank you to everyone! Your consideration to donate to my cause, messages, emails, letters, texts and phone calls with your unwavering support is very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
David
Organizer and beneficiary
Danette Bosh Alexander
Organizer
Canton, OH
David Laubacher
Beneficiary