And suddenly everything is different. Your whole life. This is what happened to Irina from Thuringia about three years ago.
Since her shock diagnosis, her world has been different. Irina needs help. Now you come into play…
Thuringia: Mom Irina has ALS
Review: Mama Irina from Tiefenort in the Wartburg district in Thuringia loves nature. She is committed to her family and friends, to dog sports, but also to animals in need and environmental protection. But at some point she no longer feels well. Stumbles repeatedly and has problems with balance. This is how her daughter Sarah describes the first symptoms. At the end of 2021, a diagnosis shook everything: Irina has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is an incurable and fatal disease that causes inexorable muscle weakness and paralysis throughout the body. “Nobody suspected that our cheerful and active mother, wife and friend would soon be completely dependent on help as the illness robbed her of all mobility and independence over time,” writes Sarah.
+++ Thuringian family in deep sadness! The stroke of fate came out of nowhere +++
According to her daughter, with her incredible fighting spirit, Irina has accepted all the losses of independence with a lot of dignity and humor. But it is also a fact: “The unstoppable decline in her physical functions and the constant changes associated with it mean an enormous psychological, physical and financial burden for my mom and our entire family,” writes Sarah. Both of her legs are now paralyzed and Irina is constantly dependent on a special wheelchair. Her core muscles are now simply too weak to hold herself upright and her arms are not strong enough to swing the toothbrush. And breathing is so strenuous at night that Irina has to be ventilated. “Her swallowing muscles are so tired that she is fed artificially and her speaking muscles are so weak that she can hardly communicate anymore,” says Sarah, describing the status quo.
Thuringians won’t let themselves be defeated
“But we won’t let that get us down either! Our inner drive is always not to let the illness control us and to use the valuable remaining time as best as possible,” says Irina’s daughter. According to Sarah, in order to counteract the motor problems, the family was able to get a new wheelchair from the health insurance company – “but we are now faced with the hurdle that it no longer fits in our car and Irina is therefore forced into an isolated world.” Excursions are So unfortunately not possible at the moment. Her mother always drew all her strength and her courage to live from excursions into nature. And from the love of her family and friends.
Since the end of 2021, Irina has been living with the shocking diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Photo: private
ALS is an incurable and fatal disease that causes inexorable muscle weakness and paralysis throughout the body. Photo: private
Irina is a loving and nature-loving woman. Photo: private
A handicapped-accessible car would not only give her mobility, but also the opportunity to take part in social activities again and travel independently. It would also mean that Irina could go on trips with her family into nature and to the sanctuary of her sponsored animal – something that was so close to her heart.
Thuringians collect donations
That’s why her dad mobilized all his strength, wrote to foundations, and made tireless phone calls to health and nursing care insurance companies and social welfare offices, Sarah continues. However, it became clear that the vehicle needed was too expensive – despite a flat rate from the social welfare office and the family’s leftover money. So that her courageous mother can continue to participate in life, Sarah has launched a call for donations on the GoFundMe platform: “With your help, we hope to take away her fear of isolation. We have already found a car that would meet our needs and are in discussions with the social welfare office. However, in the end we are almost 15,000 euros short of being able to contact the dealer or start a conversion. We ask you from the bottom of our hearts for your support. Every contribution, no matter how small or large, takes us a little further,” the appeal says. On Thursday evening, more than 10,000 euros had already been raised. Do you also want to donate? Click HERE to call!
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By the way: If more than the required money is raised, the remaining money should go to the neighbor – his house recently burned down, which is why he also needs help.
