Tammy Marshall's ALS Fund

Our sister, Tammy Marshall (pictured in the middle above), was recently diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease). This is a debilitating disease that eventually limits one's mobility and ability to perform everyday functions. It can quickly lead to death if left untreated.

Currently, there is no cure for ALS. The only treatment is one to slow down the progression of the disease. For some people, it can be slowed down to a year; for others, it can be slowed down for years. The problem is that the ability to slow it down is directly related to the ability to pay for treatment. It is expensive because you have to pay for physical therapy, the medicine, and other things that insurance does not cover.

Unfortunately, my sister does not currently have health insurance, and has been applying for assistance through Medicare/Medicaid. However, she keeps getting denied. ALS is a very expensive disease to treat, and without insurance, it makes it almost impossible. The medicine alone can be hundreds of dollars a month, and that doesn't even begin to account for the therapy that is needed just to slow down the progression of the disease. Really quickly, it gets very expensive.

On top of that, my sister's husband, Larry, has had to take unemployment just to take care of Tammy during the day, so they do not have much income coming in at the moment. We're at a point where we don't know what else to do other than to rely on the hospitality and giving of others. It's not something we hoped would get to this point, but this diagnosis is nothing that any of us has asked for right now. It's just the reality of the situation. We're hoping that others will be kind enough to give a few bucks here and there to help support us in our sister's treatment. 

If you can give $5, or if you can give $500, in the end, it is helping us keep our sister around and mobile for as long as possible. 

Please put yourself in our position for a second. As I'm typing this, I am 28 years old. I would have never thought that at this age, I would be worried about the length of time I am able to spend with my sibling. It is humbling and really puts a lot of life into perspective. 

One of my biggest regrets right now is that when the ALS Challenge (the ice bucket challenge) was going around, I did not take part. I had many opportunities, but I didn't do it because it wasn't personal to me. I didn't even know what ALS was at the time. I just skipped over it. Now that I realize it can hit any family at any time, I am more aware that I would have gladly given just a little bit to help those affected by ALS. Please, consider at this time to do the same because you never know when it may hit close to home.

Your generous donation of just a few bucks (think of it as sacrificing one soda in the morning, or a fast food meal during the week) can make a difference in a family for the rest of our time here on Earth. It really does make that big of a difference. You can literally help give us more time with our sister by giving a few bucks to the cause. It would mean the world to us, and it has more of an impact than you will ever know!

We are all taking part in the ALS Walk here in Indianapolis in the coming month. Know that your donation will not go unrecognized, as we as a family and as friends, take a stand against ALS and try to find a cure. You will be recognized not only by our family but by our entire team (which is the largest team in the ALS Walk!!!) as we try to do what little bit we can to fight this horrible disease and the thousands it affects every year.

Again, we want to say a huge thank you to all involved, and we will forever be humbled and honored by your generous donation on behalf of our sister, Tammy.

Let's rally "Tammy's Teamsters" as they walk in the ALS Walk, and as they rally around our sister to support her and her family during this time!