When Monica O’Callaghan was diagnosed with ALS in 2022, her daughters Natalie and Mary knew their lives were about to change. But they also knew one thing for sure: they wouldn’t let ALS define what came next.
“Neither of us are letting ALS stop us from doing the things we want to do,” says Natalie, who lives with her mom in Willowbrook, IL, when she’s not teaching fifth grade. “We’ve just been focusing on living life to the fullest.”
For the O’Callaghans, that has meant unforgettable trips—to France, Spain, Bermuda, and the Bahamas—and shared daily moments as a tight-knit team. But one of their most meaningful experiences came this past spring, when Monica gave a wedding speech at her daughter Mary’s reception. She delivered it in a voice that sounded like her own—thanks to cutting-edge AI voice technology.
Monica, 66, had lost her natural voice due to bulbar-onset ALS. Voice banking was something she had completed early in her care at the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at the Les Turner Center at Northwestern and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, but the initial results left her underwhelmed. “I did it, but I never really thought it sounded like me,” she says. With archived audio from home videos and years-old recordings, Monica was able to generate a synthetic voice that captured some of her original sound.
Years later, when she connected with the nonprofit Bridging Voice, things changed. Bridging Voice introduced the family to a new project using Eleven Labs’ AI tools—technology originally designed for voice acting, now being repurposed for healthcare. “When we started thinking about the wedding, Annie from Bridging Voice mentioned she had helped someone prepare an acceptance speech,” Monica says. “That’s when I knew I wanted to do it.”
Mary, 26, didn’t know what her mom was going to say. “It was a total surprise,” she says. “Natalie helped her write it, and we gave the final audio to the DJ. When it played, every single person—120 guests—was in tears. Even the random plus-ones.”
“It wasn’t perfect,” Natalie adds, “but it was the best we could get. It sounded like her. It was her.”
The O’Callaghans are quick to credit Bridging Voice and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for making the experience possible—and they believe strongly in the potential of AI-assisted voice preservation.
“This disease is so insidious that you have to throw as many resources as possible at it,” Natalie says. “AI can seem scary, but it’s also creating beautiful moments like this.”
Monica now uses an iPhone with Speech Assistant to communicate, and the family continues to learn about evolving tech. “On the newest iOS, there’s a feature called Personal Voice,” Natalie says. “It’s right in the accessibility settings. I tried it just for fun—it’s wild how fast it works.”
Still, nothing replaces the emotional weight of hearing a loved one’s familiar voice. “I have the speech on my phone,” Mary says. “I haven’t listened to it again yet because it’s so emotional—but I will. It was excellent.”
Living with ALS has reshaped family dynamics. “She’s still our mom. She still rules the roost,” Natalie laughs. “But Mary and I have had to grow up quickly. We’re doing things most people our age don’t do—medical appointments, caregiving, paperwork.”
Mary agrees. “It’s flipped the dynamic. She needs us now. But we’re doing our best, and we’re doing it together.”
Their message to other families? Be patient. Be open to new tools. Don’t wait. “ALS doesn’t mean your life is over,” Natalie says. “There’s still a lot of joy and a lot to experience. You just find a new way.”
The O’Callaghans are finding that way, one day at a time—with the help of technology, a strong support system, and organizations like the Les Turner ALS Foundation.
