Tyler Gaetano’s mother Vera, a Navy veteran, worked in the research department at the VA Hospital in West Haven, CT. Because she had been experiencing slurring of her speech, she decided to seek medical advice. Due to her history of …
Faces of ALS: Lending a helping hand
Navy veteran Jim Schlader, his wife Sue, and their neighbor Larry Nieman have lived next door to each other for six years. During that time, they have developed a friendship that has become more like family. “Jim and Sue have …
Faces of ALS: Giving thanks for those magical moments
Wendell Meyer enjoyed gardening, tackling household projects and being active in his church. By profession, he worked as a business analyst at the American Medical Association. When he began to rapidly lose weight, he decided to seek out answers with …
Faces of ALS: A true brotherhood
Jim Thew joined the Navy in 1991 and was stationed as an aircraft mechanic at the Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Ayase, Kanagawa, Japan, where he met his wife, Kumiko. In 1999, they moved to Illinois to take care of …
Faces of ALS: Raising his voice in advocacy for ALS
Rob Faulstich’s advocacy journey began when his sister-in-law, Diane Costello, was diagnosed with ALS in late 2018. “Prior to Diane’s diagnosis, she had difficulty walking and was tripping frequently going up stairs and curbs,” says Rob. “When she sought treatment …
Faces of ALS: Finding new joy following an ALS diagnosis
Tony Caruso was a busy OB-GYN who delivered hundreds of babies each year. So, it was no surprise when he began to notice symptoms of what he assumed was carpal tunnel syndrome. “I had these symptoms on and off for …
Faces of ALS: Channeling Mom’s Positivity in the Face of Familial ALS
As a healthcare worker, Tina cared for people diagnosed with ALS, including her mother. Prior to her mom’s passing in 2018, Tina started to experience symptoms that were eerily familiar. “Towards the end of my mother’s battle with ALS, I began …
Faces of ALS: Tackling Those Miles for Mitch
Marathon runners choose to run for a variety of reasons. Some love to run, enjoy the challenge, or want to cross off an item on their bucket list. Others are running for something – or someone – beyond themselves. Nathan …
Faces of ALS: Michelle Gutierrez — Batting Against ALS
Michelle has been a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan. But when she went to a Sox game in June, she saw something that left her in disbelief. Prior to her ALS diagnosis, Michelle and her longtime partner Sue led an …
Faces of ALS: Renato
For Renato, despite having been a successful business owner and a politician, his family came first – even after his ALS diagnosis. Caring for his family and specifically his wife was his top priority. As many of us know, being …
