For Dr. Andrew Goldberg, life has always been about solving complex puzzles. As a former Chief Technology Officer and Vice President at AbbVie, he spent over 30 years bringing technological advances to the world of pharmaceuticals. But today, the 53-year-old Glenview resident is focused on a different kind of innovation: using technology to maintain his voice and his independence while living with ALS.
“Technology is essential,” Andrew shares through his assistive speech device. “I’ve been using tech since I was five… it allows me to still be in the driver’s seat”.
Andrew’s journey with ALS began subtly in August 2023 when he unexpectedly lost the ability to cut food. By 2024, walking became a struggle, leading to a formal diagnosis in mid-2025.
For Andrew’s wife of 33 years, Diana, and their five children—Adam (26), Nathan (23), Maya (18), Rosie (12), and David (9)—the transition was sudden and profound.
“He came onto a cruise with a cane and came out in a wheelchair,” remembers David.
Despite the physical toll, Andrew’s “unwanted superpower”—his sharp wit—remains intact. He smiles when he says the only thing more incurable than ALS is “Dad Humor”. It’s a sentiment his daughter Rosie echoes lovingly: “My dad is a funny guy. He knows all his dad jokes”.
The Goldberg home has become a hub of “primary care,” where every family member has a role. David has learned to operate a Hoyer lift and help with medications, while Rosie assists with the day-to-day logistics of a house that has been rearranged to keep their dad at the center of the action. “He’s more social now,” Rosie says. “He eats with us, talks with us… we’re always on the social floor of the house”.
David and Rosie Goldberg at home
Since connecting with the Les Turner ALS Foundation during his first visit at the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at Northwestern Medicine, Andrew has found a vital partner in his Support Services Coordinator, Rochelle Walwer.
“Les Turner has been indispensable,” Andrew says. Through the Foundation’s loan closet, the family gained access to a power wheelchair, a Hoyer lift, and specialized communication tools like the Eyegaze and an Obi feeding device. These tools allow Andrew to maintain a level of independence that insurance often denies.
Beyond equipment, Andrew is paying it forward by helping the Foundation test new decision tools that empower families to navigate difficult conversations about medical care.
On Saturday, April 11, the Goldberg family will join us at the Hope Through Caring Gala at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago. The evening will celebrate the resilience of families like the Goldbergs and honor the medical professionals, like Andrew’s pulmonologist Dr. Coleman, who go above and beyond in their care.
Your support at the Gala ensures that we can continue providing the grants, equipment, and personalized support coordinators that allow Andrew to focus on his true legacy: his family.
“ALS doesn’t define me. I do,” Andrew says. “All I can ask is you donate your time, money, and resources… it’s a lot better to keep moving the ball forward”.
