Larry Meredith ALS Fund
Donation protected
Last December (2016) my longtime friend (66 years) Larry was diagnosed with ALS, a disease more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
This diagnosis the result of multiple tests Larry had the previous year trying to find out the cause of why he was walking "floppy."
I'll use Larry's words from his blog to describe his disease:
"I have sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig Disease. (Sporadic simply means I didn't inherit it because I have no family history of the disorder. I got it more or less randomly.) It is a rare disease and not contagious, so you can relax on that note. They do not know what causes it and there is no cure. It is a progressive and eventually fatal affliction."
"What is it? "
"Well, amyotrophic means no muscle nourishment. It doesn't mean the muscles are not getting food, but they are not getting messages from the brain. This results in weakened muscles, and then they shrink and later become paralyzed. Lateral is the way the motor neurons travel along the sides of the spinal cord. When these neurons die they leave behind scar tissue. Sclerosis means scarring or hardening. ALS is a disorder of the motor nerves or motor neutrons. These neurons tell your muscles what to do and without them your muscle become weak. The progression causes problems with daily activities, such as moving about, lifting and carrying, caring for one's self, speaking, chewing, swallowing and eventually breathing. It might also cause muscle craps, twitching under the skin, weight loss, stiffness or poor coordination. Sounds like fun, don't it?"
"They told me I have loss muscle mass in my hands, arms and legs. When it is gone it is gone. No exercise will build this loss muscle back. I am already having problems handling things with my hands. I drop a lot. I read in a case history of a relatively young woman suffering from it that found she couldn't remove her gas cap. She had to ask a man to undo it for her. I have noticed opening and closing my gas cap has become more difficult."
"I will have a team to look after me as I go to the clinic during the month. This will include doctors, nurses, social workers and therapists (speech, physical and occupational therapists.) Social workers will aid with issuance, social issues and emotional state."
"Average life expectancy can run from 1 year to 10 years on average depending on the speed of the progression. Hopefully mine is a lazy sort and slow. Remember, Steven Hawking got ALS when he was 21 and he is now 74, so he's had it for 53 years. I figure I got a chance to make 100 yet."
"Anyway, I'm not dwelling on that. I am just going to keep on living as I have, doing the things I like and enjoy my remaining years. It's all in the hands of God anyway. I may need some earthy help, though."
I talk to Larry almost every day on Face Time. Larry doesn't complain about his condition, he has accepted his condition as just another phase of his life. We both agree we have had a long and good life.
Larry is a father of three children and a grandfather of one adorable three year old grandson named Jasper. Larry and his family have also made a welcoming home for many years for a series of unadoptable older cats from the SPCA where his daughter works.
Larry and his wife are both retired and survive on Social Security and a Larry's modest pension. Larry also has health insurance but as his disease progresses, the incoming bills are starting to outpace his family’s ability to pay for those bills.
Larry, like many others is very reluctant to ask for help. Last month he fell while doing yard work and couldn't get up.
This morning, Larry mentioned that his medical bills are started to overwhelm him. He said, "I don't know how I'm going to pay them."
I suggested to him to start a Go Fund Me account. I could tell by Larry's reaction that he was reluctant to ask for help. That's why I am starting this Go Fund Me account for my longtime friend Larry. I know if the situation were reversed he would do the same for me.
Please help my friend Larry and donate whatever you can. Your donation will help to take the stress of meeting his medical bills so Larry and his family can live his remaining time on this earth in peace.
For anyone wishing to contribute but wish to do so privately you can send a check directly to Larry's home address:
Larry Meredith
107 Olympia Drive
Claymont DE 19703
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Ron Tipton
This diagnosis the result of multiple tests Larry had the previous year trying to find out the cause of why he was walking "floppy."
I'll use Larry's words from his blog to describe his disease:
"I have sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig Disease. (Sporadic simply means I didn't inherit it because I have no family history of the disorder. I got it more or less randomly.) It is a rare disease and not contagious, so you can relax on that note. They do not know what causes it and there is no cure. It is a progressive and eventually fatal affliction."
"What is it? "
"Well, amyotrophic means no muscle nourishment. It doesn't mean the muscles are not getting food, but they are not getting messages from the brain. This results in weakened muscles, and then they shrink and later become paralyzed. Lateral is the way the motor neurons travel along the sides of the spinal cord. When these neurons die they leave behind scar tissue. Sclerosis means scarring or hardening. ALS is a disorder of the motor nerves or motor neutrons. These neurons tell your muscles what to do and without them your muscle become weak. The progression causes problems with daily activities, such as moving about, lifting and carrying, caring for one's self, speaking, chewing, swallowing and eventually breathing. It might also cause muscle craps, twitching under the skin, weight loss, stiffness or poor coordination. Sounds like fun, don't it?"
"They told me I have loss muscle mass in my hands, arms and legs. When it is gone it is gone. No exercise will build this loss muscle back. I am already having problems handling things with my hands. I drop a lot. I read in a case history of a relatively young woman suffering from it that found she couldn't remove her gas cap. She had to ask a man to undo it for her. I have noticed opening and closing my gas cap has become more difficult."
"I will have a team to look after me as I go to the clinic during the month. This will include doctors, nurses, social workers and therapists (speech, physical and occupational therapists.) Social workers will aid with issuance, social issues and emotional state."
"Average life expectancy can run from 1 year to 10 years on average depending on the speed of the progression. Hopefully mine is a lazy sort and slow. Remember, Steven Hawking got ALS when he was 21 and he is now 74, so he's had it for 53 years. I figure I got a chance to make 100 yet."
"Anyway, I'm not dwelling on that. I am just going to keep on living as I have, doing the things I like and enjoy my remaining years. It's all in the hands of God anyway. I may need some earthy help, though."
I talk to Larry almost every day on Face Time. Larry doesn't complain about his condition, he has accepted his condition as just another phase of his life. We both agree we have had a long and good life.
Larry is a father of three children and a grandfather of one adorable three year old grandson named Jasper. Larry and his family have also made a welcoming home for many years for a series of unadoptable older cats from the SPCA where his daughter works.
Larry and his wife are both retired and survive on Social Security and a Larry's modest pension. Larry also has health insurance but as his disease progresses, the incoming bills are starting to outpace his family’s ability to pay for those bills.
Larry, like many others is very reluctant to ask for help. Last month he fell while doing yard work and couldn't get up.
This morning, Larry mentioned that his medical bills are started to overwhelm him. He said, "I don't know how I'm going to pay them."
I suggested to him to start a Go Fund Me account. I could tell by Larry's reaction that he was reluctant to ask for help. That's why I am starting this Go Fund Me account for my longtime friend Larry. I know if the situation were reversed he would do the same for me.
Please help my friend Larry and donate whatever you can. Your donation will help to take the stress of meeting his medical bills so Larry and his family can live his remaining time on this earth in peace.
For anyone wishing to contribute but wish to do so privately you can send a check directly to Larry's home address:
Larry Meredith
107 Olympia Drive
Claymont DE 19703
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Ron Tipton
Organizer and beneficiary
Ron Tipton
Organizer
Milton, DE
Larry Meredith
Beneficiary