Jeff Kurkjian’s Uncle Matt Passes Away From ALS
In the summer of 2021, our family got devastating news that Matt Kurkjian, my dad’s brother and my uncle, was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Jeff Kurkjian’s Uncle Matt was born the same year as my dad (Jan. 1956, my dad was December) and they grew up in the same grade every single year. They shared a bedroom. They are best friends.
Jeff Kurkjian’s Uncle Matt
Unfortunately, on September 4th, my uncle passed away from this dreaded disease after fighting for more than two years. The good news is, Emily, McKinley and I got to see him and say goodbye before he passed away. I learned so many valuable lessons from this man, I grew up just two streets away from his house. He was closer to a father than an uncle for my sister and I, we already miss you so much.
I wanted to take a minute to recognize my amazing cousins, Lane and Michael, and my uncle’s partner, Katherine, for their amazing care that they provided him. My dad was also very involved in his in-home care, he passed with all of them by his side in his home.
Support For ALS
After coming to terms with the news of his diagnosis, my dad, ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian, came to Las Vegas (where I was living at the time) to do a very special event to raise money for the ALS Association of Southern Nevada.
You can watch the video above, baseball fans you’re going to want to watch the whole thing! We raised over $3,000 for the amazing cause. We have worked closely with The ALS Association in order to raise awareness, connect families and help people with their medical expenses.
What Is ALS?
According to ALS.org, here’s more info about this awful disease.
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise.
When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. When voluntary muscle action is progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe.
How Does The ALS Association Work?
I’ve volunteered for them since 2021, there are so many amazing groups that you can support. In 2022, our family raised Here’s more about their organization
Established in 1985, The ALS Association is the only national nonprofit organization fighting ALS on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure.
To XTU Nation, thank you for your love and support during these difficult times. It’s been full of highs and lows; the birth of daughter, the loss of our uncle, it’s been a lot. But you’ve been supportive the entire time, thank you.
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