Andre’s Fight Against ALS: Our Story of Love, Faith, and Strength

Our story is one of love, faith, family, strength, and our journey with ALS.

Before ALS became part of our lives, there was our love story.

Andre and I met on Super Bowl Sunday in 2006 at a Caribbean nightclub called Vibes. Neither of us knew that one ordinary night would change our lives forever. We became friends, and that friendship grew into a love that has now been part of our lives for nearly 20 years.

One thing we always shared was our love for dancing. Whether it was a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night, you could usually find us at Vibes. We loved the music, the laughter, and simply enjoying life together. Looking back now, those moments are some of our favorite memories.

As the years passed, we built a beautiful life together. We traveled, laughed, danced, supported one another through every season, and made memories we’ll always treasure. Then, on December 27, 2010, we got married and promised to love one another for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. At the time, we couldn’t have imagined how much those words would one day mean.

Today, we have been married for 15 years and are approaching our 16th anniversary. In all, we’ve shared nearly 20 years together. Those years have been filled with love, friendship, laughter, commitment, and choosing each other through every season of life.

Andre is so much more than ALS. He is my husband, a loving father to Jayla, a proud grandfather to Amirah, a son, a brother, a friend, and a man who has always loved his family with his whole heart.

One of Andre’s greatest joys in life is being Jayla’s father. He is incredibly proud of the woman she has become, and the love they share is something truly special. Watching their relationship has always been a blessing, and seeing the pride he has in her brings me joy.

Another of Andre’s greatest joys is being a grandfather to Amirah. When Andre first began experiencing symptoms, Amirah was only two years old. Today, she is almost six and has grown alongside him on this journey. She loves her grandfather dearly, and he loves her just as much. She is always checking on him, helping him whenever she can, and reminding us that ALS can never take away love.

Before ALS, our lives looked very different. Andre loved football, basketball, and boxing. We loved traveling, going out, dancing, laughing, and simply enjoying life together.

In November 2023, we noticed something wasn’t right. Andre began walking with a slight limp. At first, we didn’t know what it meant. In February of 2024, he saw a neurologist at Kaiser Permanente. We were told it could be ALS or possibly drop foot, but more testing was needed. After months of appointments and uncertainty, another neurologist referred Andre to the ALS specialists at Emory University.

In October 2024, after a full day of testing and evaluations, we received the news we had been praying we would never hear. Andre was diagnosed with ALS.

From that day on, life changed. We cried. We had sleepless nights. There were moments of denial, and there were days we found ourselves asking, “Why us?” We were trying to understand something we never thought we’d have to face. But through every difficult moment, we held on to each other, and we held on to our faith.

As Andre’s ALS progressed, he went from using a cane to a walker and now uses a power wheelchair full-time. He continued working for as long as he could, even after experiencing falls at work. After more than 20 years of dedicated service as a supervisor with the American Red Cross, he retired. Losing his independence, including the ability to drive, has been one of the hardest changes. Even so, Andre has never stopped moving forward. Today, he is participating in a clinical trial at Emory University, not only for himself but in the hope of helping others living with ALS.

Our faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has carried us through every step of this journey. He has giving us the strength to face each day with love, patience, and hope. We know we are not walking this road alone.

ALS has changed many things about our lives, but it has never changed who Andre is. He is still my husband. He is still Jayla’s father. He is still Amirah’s grandfather. He is still the man who loves football, boxing, music, dancing, and his family. He is still a fighter.

We are sharing our story because we want to help bring awareness to ALS and to let other families know they are not alone.

On September 19, 2026, we will be walking with Team Dre in the ALS Georgia Walk. We are walking for Andre, for every family affected by ALS, and for the hope that one day there will be better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

ALS Georgia has been an incredible blessing to our family. They have provided transportation to medical appointments, home care support while I’m at work, and a community of people who truly understand this journey. We are deeply grateful for everything they have done for us and for so many other families.

If you are able, we would be honored to have you join Team Dre or to give a donation to ALS Georgia using the link or barcode shared. Every dollar, every step, every prayer, and every act of kindness helps bring hope to families living with ALS.

To our family and friends, thank you for loving us, praying for us, encouraging us, and standing beside us throughout this journey. Your support has meant more than words can express.

Our journey with ALS has been filled with pain, change, and uncertainty, but it has also shown us the true meaning of faith, love, commitment, and strength.

ALS is part of our story, but it is not our whole story.

Our story is about Andre Williams—the husband, the father, the grandfather, the son, the brother, the friend, and the man I love. And through it all, we will continue to walk by faith, one day at a time.

With love and gratitude,

Rochelle and Andre Williams

Team Dre