Finding Hope - Stronger than ALS. Support Peggy and Monty through this Journey

To know Peggy is to love her. Peggy is a wife of almost 56 years, Mom to 5, Grandmother to 17 and Great Grandmother to 9. Peggy was a pediatric nurse for many years and has given so much love and compassion to everyone around her. She has spent her years caring for and loving on everyone around her.

Last October 2025, Peggy was diagnosed with Bulbar onset ALS and her abilities have diminished rapidly throughout the year. Peggy is cared for daily around the clock by her husband, Monty, and her 5 children who take turns staying with their dad and mom. Peggy started hospice in July and due to the nature of ALS and the rapid changes, each week becomes more challenging for Peggy and care needs increase. Despite this, Peggy continues to enjoy her visits with family, friends and those little grandchildren. People and time together just light up her days despite the new pains and discomforts that continue to come. Peggy never complains.

ALS is a difficult disease that is underfunded and under researched. It slowly robs a person of their abilities. ALS is expensive and care is hard to come by people trained in the complexities of ALS and to afford. Throughout this year Monty has done the most amazing job of caring for Peggy. Their children take turns so that someone is always at their home with their Dad to assist in care. We all want to be present and care for Peggy the way she has always shown us. This fundraiser was set up to ease any financial burdens that will allow Monty and his children to be there and support Peggy through her days with her family.

The idea for this graphic design evolved out of the desire for something that would be a physical reminder of the strength we find within and the beauty to be found around us. ALS is the most difficult journey we have had -- Mom leads us with her strength, compassion and the ability to see the good in any circumstance. Her body may be failing her, but she is still here with us and caring for us --even without speaking. She holds our hands, wipes our tears and continues to show us life's beauty with her big smile. Mom has enjoyed so many pictures of nature and sunrises, sunsets and our families out in the world and this design was chosen to represent that beauty and the strength and hope and the promise of a new day.

This has been the most difficult year watching someone you love so much lose all their abilities. While we would never wish this disease on anyone and their loved ones, we have had many beautiful moments layered within and continue to find ways to hope for Peggy's comfort and that she feels the love that she has poured on others.

Thank you for your support for our family. We hope for continued ALS awareness so that research can continue to find ways to make ALS more livable and someday cured so others do not face these challenges.