John Elkins - Enduring ALS
Donation protected
John Elkins is a father, husband, triathlete and marathon finisher. He and his wife, Becky, have been highly respected members of a local triathlon team for many years. They have always been on the front lines to help, encourage, teach and motivate others who have wanted to improve themselves both physically and mentally. John and Becky have mentored countless teammates and fellow athletes on how to become warriors. Now, they are at the starting line of their own race - a race unlike any they've done before.
John Elkins is an ALS Patient.
Friends of the Elkins family have started this fundraising effort to assist the Elkins' in their battle to fight ALS.
All monies raised will go toward special equipment necessary for John's care, medical expenses, and the needs of the family at their discretion.
The History:
April 2014: Around 6 a.m. John comes into the home office and says, “Hey, tomorrow morning do you think you can go out and run with me and help me run faster? I just went out and ran and I feel like I can’t run right; I feel like my brain isn’t talking to my foot.”
In that moment, life for the Elkins family took a very unexpected turn.
You see, the working diagnosis is motor neuron disease, unspecified. Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a mystic disease of which there are approximately 4 types; ALS being one of them. MND consists of your brain talking to your extremity, but your nerves can’t carry that signal. So, your brain says “go go go!” And your muscle just sits there, alone, not working…and then creates its own language, and then just wastes away-as it has no leadership anymore.
Imagine you have to be seated or lying down 24 hours a day; Imagine when seated you roll over (because you are in a motorized power wheelchair, now) to turn the light in the bathroom off but you-just now- while trying to do this, realize that your fingers won’t go up far enough to do so-but they did yesterday; Imagine you took a shower and now you can’t dry off half of your body because your arm just won’t let you and won’t go where you brain is telling it to go; Imagine you can’t reach the soup cans in the pantry anymore because they are too deep inside the pantry-so they need to be moved so you can just get out a can of soup; Imagine when you do finally get that can of soup, you can’t reach the bowls anymore-but you can’t stand up to reach those bowls, so…?; Imagine when you can’t drive your car anymore and have to depend on someone else or someTHING else for transportation; Imagine you WERE the athlete and now you can’t swim, bike or run; walk; stand up for long; your mind is sharp as a tack but your body fails you; and, have to be on the ‘dark side’ every.single.day because #ALSsucks.
January 2016: We have purchased a rear-entry handicap accessible van, we have had extensive home renovations done, a power wheelchair has been obtained, ramps are at each exit/entry of our home and John no longer TRIs, runs, jogs, or walks. John is currently no longer training; he is enduring ‘his’ “Ironman.” I (Becky) was able to get John out with ease (no hurling the manual wheelchair in the back of my Subaru, no difficulty with him transferring from said manual wheelchair to the passenger’s seat in the car), about two weeks ago, to go to the grocery store; the first time he had been to the grocery (freedom! Out of the house!) in about 5 months.
March 29, 2016: We have an upgraded working diagnosis. John is officially an ALS patient.
This diagnosis now brings a plethora of new obstacles to overcome. Medicare, SSDI, and specialized equipment for John's rapidly decreasing motor functions, among others.
The expenses associated with this horrible disease are unfathomable, and to this point have been entirely out-of-pocket expenses. Complete bathroom renovation to accommodate handicap access. Equipment to assist with all grooming activities of daily living. A new bed has been ordered for John, bearing a $3,400 price tag on it's own. The cost of periodic upgrades to John's wheelchair and the new van as his level of mobility changes. All on top of the cost of his multi-weekly treatments, doctors visits, and prescriptions.
The Elkins family has blessed so many people in need without ever asking for anything in return. Now, we have a chance to rally behind them and extend the same love and support that they have always given to others so freely.
John Elkins is an ALS Patient.
Friends of the Elkins family have started this fundraising effort to assist the Elkins' in their battle to fight ALS.
All monies raised will go toward special equipment necessary for John's care, medical expenses, and the needs of the family at their discretion.
The History:
April 2014: Around 6 a.m. John comes into the home office and says, “Hey, tomorrow morning do you think you can go out and run with me and help me run faster? I just went out and ran and I feel like I can’t run right; I feel like my brain isn’t talking to my foot.”
In that moment, life for the Elkins family took a very unexpected turn.
You see, the working diagnosis is motor neuron disease, unspecified. Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a mystic disease of which there are approximately 4 types; ALS being one of them. MND consists of your brain talking to your extremity, but your nerves can’t carry that signal. So, your brain says “go go go!” And your muscle just sits there, alone, not working…and then creates its own language, and then just wastes away-as it has no leadership anymore.
Imagine you have to be seated or lying down 24 hours a day; Imagine when seated you roll over (because you are in a motorized power wheelchair, now) to turn the light in the bathroom off but you-just now- while trying to do this, realize that your fingers won’t go up far enough to do so-but they did yesterday; Imagine you took a shower and now you can’t dry off half of your body because your arm just won’t let you and won’t go where you brain is telling it to go; Imagine you can’t reach the soup cans in the pantry anymore because they are too deep inside the pantry-so they need to be moved so you can just get out a can of soup; Imagine when you do finally get that can of soup, you can’t reach the bowls anymore-but you can’t stand up to reach those bowls, so…?; Imagine when you can’t drive your car anymore and have to depend on someone else or someTHING else for transportation; Imagine you WERE the athlete and now you can’t swim, bike or run; walk; stand up for long; your mind is sharp as a tack but your body fails you; and, have to be on the ‘dark side’ every.single.day because #ALSsucks.
January 2016: We have purchased a rear-entry handicap accessible van, we have had extensive home renovations done, a power wheelchair has been obtained, ramps are at each exit/entry of our home and John no longer TRIs, runs, jogs, or walks. John is currently no longer training; he is enduring ‘his’ “Ironman.” I (Becky) was able to get John out with ease (no hurling the manual wheelchair in the back of my Subaru, no difficulty with him transferring from said manual wheelchair to the passenger’s seat in the car), about two weeks ago, to go to the grocery store; the first time he had been to the grocery (freedom! Out of the house!) in about 5 months.
March 29, 2016: We have an upgraded working diagnosis. John is officially an ALS patient.
This diagnosis now brings a plethora of new obstacles to overcome. Medicare, SSDI, and specialized equipment for John's rapidly decreasing motor functions, among others.
The expenses associated with this horrible disease are unfathomable, and to this point have been entirely out-of-pocket expenses. Complete bathroom renovation to accommodate handicap access. Equipment to assist with all grooming activities of daily living. A new bed has been ordered for John, bearing a $3,400 price tag on it's own. The cost of periodic upgrades to John's wheelchair and the new van as his level of mobility changes. All on top of the cost of his multi-weekly treatments, doctors visits, and prescriptions.
The Elkins family has blessed so many people in need without ever asking for anything in return. Now, we have a chance to rally behind them and extend the same love and support that they have always given to others so freely.
Organizer and beneficiary
Monique Bailey
Organizer
Lenow, TN
Becky Elkins
Beneficiary