On Saturday, Sep 14, 2024, I am once again participating in Walk ALS Jersey Shore. My goal is to raise $2500 this year because I’m trying to do everything I can to support individuals and families affected by ALS and make an impact locally. I have a very personal reason to walk and raise money. I am walking in honor/memory of my beautiful mother, Susan Cento.

Unbeknownst to us, ALS arrived at my mother’s doorstep roughly 5 years ago, as a muscle weakness in my mother’s leg and clumsiness. Over the years, we just chalked it up to not paying attention and clumsiness. She started using a cane in 2020 and progressed from a cane to a rolling walker in December 2021, the month we unexpectedly lost my Dad. From that moment,  her condition progressed, and she moved to a motorized wheelchair. We knew it had to be more the mere clumsiness. Thus began our journey……15 months of constant falling, broken bones and bruises, endless appointments, MRI’s, Cat scans, EMG’s, bloodwork, specialist appointments and no one had an answer or the answers they did provide made us second guess their diagnosis. When the 3rd Neurologist, unofficially diagnosed her with ALS, we were so confused and largely ignored it but the wheels began to turn and there were hours upon hours spent researching this diagnosis. But there it was in black and white, all her symptoms finally making sense. We finally scheduled an appointment for her at the ALS Clinic in Fort Myers, Florida on May 30, 2023 to get further information.  This 5 hour appointment confirmed what we had been dreading, my mother had ALS.

Our hearts were broken with this heart wrenching, terminal diagnosis, but we rallied around her. This disease brought out a brave, strong, and ingenious side of my mother. We did not know what the future held for her but the challenges were plenty but my brother and sister-in-law did everything in their power to overcome them all. The ALS Clinic in Fort Myers was amazing from the start. Dr. Voung and the entire staff of doctors and nurses had the answers to every question, and had the resource for every need so that she was able to focus on what’s next. And what’s next moves quickly with ALS. By Thanksgiving she now needed constant care and couldn’t be left alone. She had a ton of new gadgets just for daily living;  a hoyer lift to move from her chair to wheelchair,  a shower chair, a bedside commode, a BiPap machine for breathing and she began to rapidly lose muscle mass and weight as getting her to eat was a constant struggle. 7 months after her diagnosis she had to make the decision to have a feeding tube inserted or to not…….after careful consideration and hours of research, she chose the ladder. 9 Months after her diagnosis, and after one hell of a courageous fight,  she took her last breath surrounded by her family and all the love of a lifetime. ALS weakened her body and although there were days when it weakened her spirit, she always chose faith over her fear.   I will forever advocate and continue to help people understand what this disease is and help with the hope for a cure. With everyone’s help there is always hope!  

That's why I'm walking again this year….to change the statistics. To bring help and hope to those living with the disease.

Please consider joining my team, Strides for Susan, and walking with me or sponsoring me. With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by this disease, like my mother. My Hero, My Heart, My Best Friend and if you were lucky enough to have known her, you knew she was the kindest, most generous and genuine person you may have ever met. If you feel moved to help, or say "I Care" in anyway, please consider joining my team or sponsoring me.

I will forever advocate and continue to help people understand what this disease is and help with the hope for a cure!! With everyone’s help there is always hope!