When someone you love gets diagnosed with ALS, the first thing you ask is what can I do to help? For many people like me, the answer is to participate in walkALS Georgia, which raises awareness and money to support Georgians living with ALS.

Juanita (Joycie Baby) Simmons is nothing short of an angel on earth. Although she has no children of her own, she can boast having many nieces, nephews and Godchildren who she thoroughly spoiled rotten. Joyce was and is always a giver. She is the friend that you would want to be your best friend with traits of loyalty and kindness. She loves travel and adventure with family.  

Unfortunately, Joyce was diagnosed with ALS in the ER minutes before she was intubated and placed in the ICU. She had gone to several physicians over the previous years to describe her symptoms , yet she did not receive the diagnosis or help that she needed, so she suffered alone in silence until her body could not hold out any longer. She now requires feeding by g-tube and has a tracheostomy and ventilator to assist with her breathing. She is unable to move her upper extremities but she remains positive and still consistently asks about the health and wellness of others.   

But Joyce is resilient, and continues to make the most of everyday with the support of others. Joyce has been the ‘giver’ all of her life, we now ask for your support to help her be the recipient of your generousity and kindness to help her and others who are living with ALS to be more independent and to have a better quality of life.