Support Kelly Torrance's Battle Against ALS

Last summer, one month shy of her 48th birthday, our dear friend Kelly Torrance was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease). This diagnosis came as a complete and utter shock to her and her friends and family. As a single mom to a 17 year old boy, the diagnosis was shocking and terrifying.

ALS is a terminal disease that attacks and weakens your nervous system, affecting basic tasks like walking, speaking, eating, and more. While most ALS patients see a slower decline over the course of several years, Kelly’s symptoms have rapidly progressed at a breathtaking rate. The disease has now taken complete control of her life. As a result, she cannot walk and requires a wheelchair, a Hoyer lift to get in and out of bed, and has no use of her hands. She relies on her friends and family to feed her, respond to texts, and perform all other daily tasks.

Luckily she has an army of people who want nothing more than to help her, laugh with her and spend precious time with her. We simply want to be with her as long as we possibly can. We are her friends, her family, her co-workers…everyone who knows Kelly loves her. And for those of you who don’t know Kelly, we can assure you she is the real deal. Kelly is a beautiful person inside and out. She is hysterically funny with an amazing contagious laugh. And she is so smart…she can talk for hours about anything from politics and literature to music and art. Even through all of this, she has maintained her sense of humour, her positive attitude, and her willingness to put others’ needs before her own.

Kelly has always been fiercely independent, so asking for help isn’t easy. Her primary caregiver is her mother, Jeanie. No one could ever take better care of Kelly than Jeanie. But as her disease has progressed, it has become impossible for Jeanie to do this alone. Government funding only covers up to three hours of help each day. Kelly now needs round-the-clock care, which she has been personally paying for. As her needs have increased, so has the amount she needs to pay. She is currently paying $7000 each month out of pocket, and she cannot sustain this on her own anymore. This horrible disease is robbing Kelly of her independence and her life. Do not let it rob her of her dignity as well.

We need your help. Kelly needs your help. Her mother needs your help. Please consider donating to help pay for the private home care needed so Kelly can stay at home and give her mother some much needed respite. Kelly has always been the first to offer her help when needed…she needs our help now. It would mean so much to all of us that love her to know that her wish to stay in her home for the rest of her life can be fulfilled.