Last Saturday was a great day for the #KeepKimHome Team at the Top of Utah Marathon! Kim's friends and caregivers participated in the popular marathon while pushing Kim in an adapted jogger stroller to help raise awareness about ALS and get support for Kim.
Wendy Shelton, friend of Kim said, "We thank God for everyone who helped make this a memorable day. This adventure wouldn't have happened without your generous donation and support."
Tuesday the Utah Assistive Technology Program took the ice bucket challenge for Kim. It was chilly, but worth it!
When Kim was 50 years old, she was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. ALS attacks your muscles and nerves. The symptoms initially begin with mild muscle stiffness followed by severe weakness and then paralysis of the muscles of the limbs and trunk. Eventually, ALS will affect other vital functions such as speech, swallowing and for many the inability to breathe without a ventilator.
Unlike you and I, if Kim has an itch she is unable to scratch it. If her arm or leg position is uncomfortable she is unable to adjust it. One of the few things ALS does not affect is the mind. Kim's mind is as sharp today as when she was diagnosed.
The average life expectancy for a person diagnosed with ALS is 2 to 5 years. Only 10 percent of those living with ALS will live longer than 10 years. Kim falls into that 10 percent category. On Sept. 16, 2014, Kim will have been living with ALS for 10 years.
While born and raised in New York, Kim is a Utah State University graduate and Cache Valley resident. She was an interpreter for the deaf (American Sign Language) for 22 years before having to quit because of her illness. She has been an interpreter for many influential people including President Clinton during a rally for Senator Ted Kennedy.
The State of Utah only pays for 17 hours per week for Kim's care providers. This leaves Kim to pay for the remaining 6 days of the week, and she's exhausted her financial options.
Help keep Kim home by donating here, and taking the Ice Bucket Challenge! #keepkimhome
It's been a few months since our last active post. Many donors have asked how Kim is doing and what is going on with fundraising. Hopefully this will provide an update as well as some exciting items of interest!
First of all, Kim is doing well. She continues to stay upbeat and optimistic despite the many challenges she faces. The summer is a bonus, allowing her to go out to events like the Summerfest in Cache Valley, the previews of the Utah Festival Opera at the Logan Tabernacle.
In October we were worried that her finances wouldn't allow her to remain home past May. With your help and other sources of income it is now July and she is still home. Something she is very grateful for. Kim was able to sell an insurance policy that has provided her with some monthly income for the next two years, but it is not enough. We still need your help.
In June, Kim posted the following on her facebook. Please take a moment to read her thoughts and respond to her plea.
8 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). I can do nothing for myself and must hire people to help me. It costs about $100 per day. I spent all of my retirement savings, sold my home in Massachusetts, and I'm living on the remains of my life insurance policy which I was forced to cash out. I have had some fundraisers but I'm running out of money.
I have a special trust fund set up. You can read about it atwww.keepkimhome.blogspot.com. Many of you have contributed to it and I have a couple of very generous monthly donors.
If I could find 400 people who would donate $5 a month ($60 a year), I could avoid going back to a nursing home. I was there for almost 2 years and it was a nightmare.
Please repost this: I can reach 35,000 people.
Your friends know you and can trust that this isn't a scam or fake.
We'd like to thank the many hands that helped donate, label and organize the yard sale Saturday June 29th. We had furniture, clothing, accessories, books and much more. Over $1000.00 dollars was raised!
