Seth Poling ALS

Many of you don't know, as I've chose to keep this matter private amongst immediate friends and family, I was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) in June 2017 during a visit to John's Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. I've dealt with symptoms of ALS for 4+ years. I literally had a higher chance of getting struck by lightning (1/12,000) this year, than being diagnosed with ALS (5/100,000). That being said, those of you who know me, know my love of life and desire to be happy and succeed is unprecedented. I might do things slower than I use to and my speech might be slurred, but I'm able to do mostly everything I've always done. It's getting to the point where hiding my diagnosis isn't as easy as it once was and many people are taken aback after seeing me after years or months since they last had. The reason I'm announcing this is the burden and stresses of living with ALS are starting to become "Real life". Even though my mobility is currently intact, the undeniable reality is that my future may very well have a wheelchair or powered wheelchair in it. I'm currently working fulltime, but that could change any day. Erika and I have given a lot of thought about our current living arrangements and we even considered moving into a home more suited to our needs. Erika and I have grown to love our home, neighborhood, neighbors and locality. It pains me to admit, but with my overall health declining, we HAVE to address the need for a ADA accessible first floor bedroom and bathroom in our current home. We have reached out to numerous organizations about assistance to individuals living with ALS, but unfortunately I don't meet their criteria. Either I'm too young, old, make too much or too little. The majority of those organizations only offer assistance to those needing medical equipment and currently I do not. Many kind and generous people who know about my current situation, have asked my friends and family what they can do to help. Until recently, we've not had a good response to that question other than- Please treat me as you always have! My mother came up with the idea to do a Bake Steak Charity Dinner at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Buckhannon, WV; Friday November 2, 2018 from 4:30-7PM for Erika and I to help raise money for us to build an addition and to accommodate our home for our future needs. I ask anyone willing to donate food, time, crafts to be auctioned, money and ect. Please contact my Mother, Mary Alice Poling. We are in the early stages of planning and any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Please know this is extremely difficult for me to ask and I thank anyone willing to help. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to further the research and development of a cure for ALS. Ending on a good note- Thankfully I'm a stubborn individual and my will to not let this disease define me is unequivocal! The God lord only gives you what you can handle. Please keep me and my family in your thoughts and prayers!