At 76 years old, Jim Halstead can no longer move between the lecture halls of DePaul University or preside at Sunday mass like he once did. But his days are still rich with meaning, reflection, and connection—albeit quieter and more …
Leaning on Family, Faith, and Community
For Satrina Bryant-Higgins, family is everything. Her three children and three grandchildren are the center of her world. “We are all we have, and we have a great relationship,” she says. “Whenever I see my grandbabies, it brightens my whole …
Never back down, never give up: Ken Trent
For Ken Trent and his family, those six words—never back down, never give up—have become their motto. His youngest daughter first said them, and now they guide the Trent family through each day. “ALS takes away your independence,” says Ken. …
When lives are on the line
Bryan Szymczak has always run toward danger. For 26 years, he fought fires in cities across Illinois, until an ALS diagnosis forced him into early retirement. It began with a weakness in his right thumb, which he chalked up to …
Faces of ALS: A Veteran Nurse’s Journey of Service and Strength
Connie Daniels has dedicated much of her life to caring for others. Born at St. Luke’s Hospital in 1946, she grew up on the South Side of Chicago. The oldest girl in a family of six, Connie always wanted to …
Up to the Challenge: The Hernandez Family
Caring makes the difference. For Mario Hernandez, it starts with his daughters Jenny and Emily. “My daughters are two angels that God gave me, to support me in this moment of what I’m going through right now,” says Mario. …
The Keldani Family Fights On
Susan Keldani won’t slow down. At the age of 60, she’s a prolific fundraiser for ALS care and research, the mother of college-age triplets, and the owner of a busy intermodal trucking company. Managing a business alongside the ever-present …
The things that matter the most
Brian Davis was diagnosed with ALS last year at the age of 35. This holiday season, Brian and his wife Katy McNeil want to share how the disease has affected them – and how much your support for the Les …
Faces of ALS: The Tejeda Family’s Journey / El Camino de la Familia Tejeda
At the age of 54, Martin Tejeda found himself in uncharted territory for the second time. Originally from Atlixco in the state of Puebla, Mexico, he immigrated to Chicago at 19, and over the decades that followed, his family has …
