Helping My Son Julien’s Friend, Joey
My son, Julien, is long-time friends with Joey Porrello who began an arduous, absolutely life-altering journey with ALS in 2021. In our ongoing support of Joey and his family we are putting Joey’s gofundme.com page announcement and link here so that any visitors can donate whatever amount they’re inspired to. Joey’s page explains much more on his and his family’s situation. Thank you.
Joey writes on this gofundme page:
My ALS has progressed to a point where we can no longer manage it as a family. We need to hire help for me. For the rest of my life. Which I will extend however possible.
Our ALS story starts as they all do: the tiniest of a sensation of a movement being “off.” In June of 2021, my left wrist drooped in a then vivid instant. 11 months later, May of 2022, I was diagnosed. My daughter (Otti) would turn two, 2 days later and my son (Walter) would be born less than 2 months later. I was wheelchair dependent by October, and retired as a civil engineer in February of 2023. When our life seemed to truly be coming together, it all fell apart. Just like that.
I’m now fully paralyzed, from a functional standpoint. I’m also non-verbal, having lost my voice. I speak with my eyes through a special computer. I have zero self sufficiency. If not for others, I would starve, unable to move or call for help.
Please go here to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-joeys-als-caretaking-needs
