Jody Canter

Hi, My name is Rick Canter, a retired firefighter from the City of Glendale, CA. I retired in 2014 after thirty years in the fire service. With tremendous help from my local 776 in Glendale, I am asking for help from my Brothers and Sisters in the service.

We are launching this GoFundMe campaign to support my wife Jody Canter, and our family, as we navigate Jody’s journey with ALS. Jody was diagnosed in October 2022. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a debilitating neurological disease that affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. It will gradually lead to total paralysis. There is no known cure, and unfortunately, Jody’s case is progressing very quickly. She is no longer able to walk or eat on her own, requiring 24-hour care and equipment assisted breathing.

As you can imagine, receiving this diagnosis has been devastating for Jody and our family. Her never-ending help, support, love, judgement free listening, advice, and vast knowledge of somehow everything under the sun, is undeniably vital to so many lives that she is a part of.

Now we have the opportunity to help take care of her and make the very little time she has left with us as comfortable and supportive as possible. Taking good care of her is in fact all we have left, making it the most important thing in our daily lives right now.

ALS is a rare condition with no known cure. There is limited support, and so much is required! One of Jody’s only wishes for her short time left is that she can stay AT home. The costs of a handicap bathroom remodel, caregivers, medications, necessary medical equipment; as well as lifts, chairs and other physical equipment is constantly evolving. The cost of making her life as comfortable and convenient as possible is becoming unfeasible with our families’ resources.

While many of our family members are contributing as much as they can both physically and monetarily, any donation to our fund would make it possible for us to ensure Jody has quality care and the required equipment to make the rest of her time with us comfortable, safe, and dignified.

Jody is a mother of three and has four young grandchildren who cherish their Grammy deeply. They look forward to cuddling up to her in her bed and entertaining her with their silliness during their weekly Sunday visits.

Although Jody has lost the ability to speak or make much movement, she is still able to communicate with her grandkids via a device, and this time is so meaningful to her and to us. Even in her weakened condition, Grammy is still the bravest of us all. She is teaching us not only about ALS, but valuable life lessons like how to care for loved ones, what matters at the end of life, and teaching us how we can care for her best every step of the way.

We are grateful for your support in helping Jody and our family navigate the challenges of this devastating condition. We are working with Cedars Sinai Medical Center of Los Angeles and the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association.

Many in our fire family have reached out with calls and cards as well as emails. ALS is not new to the Fire Service, and your help is much needed. If you have any questions or would like more details, please contact me.

Respectfully,

Rick Canter