Like most events at the Gardner home in the western suburbs of Chicago it was a family affair. With the face masks in-place and appropriate social distancing, the Gardner family met us outside for what we’re lovingly calling a “front …
Sustainers for Sustainability
These past several months have been unexpectedly difficult for everyone. For those facing the daily challenges of ALS, the many uncertainties and unanswered questions brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic can be simply overwhelming. “Our commitment and number one goal …
Virtual ALS Celebration of Life 2020
This past weekend, over 100 members of our Les Turner ALS family joined us for our Virtual Celebration of Life. The event consisted of a moving 15-minute ceremony honoring those we have lost to ALS. The ceremony included readings from …
Letting the Love In
The first night they met, John and Meg Rooney won second place in a dance contest. What followed was a 27-year marriage, three sons and a long-term dedication to our Les Turner ALS family. For many of you, the Rooney …
The Embodiment of Hope and Help
As we near the end of ALS Awareness Month, facts and statistics about ALS can be found around every corner. The lifetime risk of developing ALS is just 1 in 300. The estimated annual cost of care is $250,000. These figures illustrate …
Introducing the Joan & Paul Rubschlager Professorship
When Paul Rubschlager’s father was diagnosed with ALS in 1974, little was known about the cause of ALS and even less existed to help families facing this heartbreaking disease. After Paul’s father passed away in 1975, he and his wife …
Telehealth – How We’re Adapting
The need to adapt to changing circumstances is not new to those with ALS. ALS requires constant attention and creativity to stay ahead of physical and emotional changes. As news continues to emerge about precautions against COVID-19, we are all …
Honoring a Quarter Century with the Les Turner ALS Foundation
After nearly 25 years with the Les Turner ALS Foundation as Manager of Community Education, ALS Support Services Coordinator and Support Group Facilitator, and decades of nursing experience before joining us, Ileane Mindel, RN, is retiring. Ileane joined us as …
A Congressional Gold Medal Recipient Living with ALS
Last week, Steve Gleason, former NFL player and person living with ALS, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, our nation’s highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress. The medal seeks to honor those, “who have performed an achievement that has an …