Don’t Let An Innocent Man Be Euthanized

My husband, Scott, has advanced ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He is completely paralyzed except for his eyes, and relies on a ventilator to breathe for him. He is fully aware and has complete mental function. He communicates with an Eyegaze computer system that he works with his eyes, and can read emails and surf the web. Scott has a full life and enjoys the things we all do – time with family and friends, going to the movies, enjoying seeing the neighborhood children play, ‘walks’ thru the neighborhood, the family cat curled up purring next to him . . . Scott’s reason to live is his desire for our future together, and the fact that the cure for this horrible disease is closer than ever.

Unfortunately, without your help, Scott will be forced to choose his last day on earth. He will be forced to choose the last day he will ever see anyone or anything he loves or cares about. He will be forced to know, as he’s looking into the faces of those he loves the most, that it will be up to him to signal the doctors to administer the shot that will close his eyes forever. After he’s sedated to the point that he can’t wake up, his ventilator will be disconnected and we will hold him while he suffocates to death.

Why will this happen? On May 7, 2011, Scott will lose his Cobra insurance and with that, the ability to pay for the 24/7 in-home nursing care he needs to live. There are no insurance plans available at any price due to his ‘pre-existing condition’. We simply cannot afford to pay the $360,000 to $400,000 per year that Medicare does not cover. Scott cannot survive in a nursing home. ALS will not kill Scott while he’s on the ventilator, but a cold, the flu or a bedsore will. His doctors say that except for the ALS and needing the vent, Scott is in perfect health.

How can you help? As we said before – Click A Button and Save A Life. Donate whatever you like, it’s as easy as that. Then, email and Facebook this to everyone you know. Print, copy and mail it to those who aren’t web connected, so that they can mail a donation to the bank address provided below.

You have the power to save Scott’s life – Please use that power!