ALS is something that, unfortunately, has touched Jeff Kurkjian’s family with his uncle’s diagnosis in the summer of 2021. At this moment, there is no cure and unfortunately, there are still so many unanswered questions surrounding this wretched disease; it is still 100% fatal.
Here are some more details about this disease from ALS.CA
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also known as ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, or motor neuron disease) is a disease that gradually paralyzes people because the brain is no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body that we are typically able to move at will. Over time, as the muscles of the body break down, someone living with ALS will lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe.
ALS is not contagious. There is no cure for ALS and few treatment options for the majority of people living with the disease. Approximately 80 per cent of people with ALS die within two to five years of being diagnosed.
Think back to 2014, do you remember the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Billions of views on videos of people dumping ice water on their heads in order to spread awareness and raise money to find a cure for ALS. Who started all of this? Well, that’s who Jeff had on his podcast.
Pete Frates was diagnosed with ALS in 2012 at the age of 27. His family decided they weren’t going to give up but they were going to bring this disease to social media and spread awareness. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2019.
He inspired MILLIONS of people to get up and donate. Jeff had the opportunity to talk to his mother, Nancy Frates, about how all of this actually got started. Since 2014, they have raised over $250 million for a cure and care for ALS patients.
This is a warning, the interview gets very emotional considering Jeff’s connection to the cause, we recommend a box of tissues by your side.
