Corrie’s worst fear was confirmed on April 28, 2023.  

In late Summer of 2022, Corrie started having strange neurological symptoms including sporadic muscle weakness and fasciculations (twitches).  These symptoms started in her right foot, but soon included her whole right side from foot to bicep.

Due to a family history of ALS (Lou Gherig’s Disease), being armed with strong medical knowledge from her recently earned Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, and having recently started a Physical Therapist Assistant Degree, Corrie brought her symptoms up to her Sports Medicine Doctor in September 2022 and began fighting for a diagnosis knowing that early diagnosis and treatment would give her the best fighting chance.

After many doctor’s visits, blood tests, and scans, Corrie’s suspicion was confirmed and she was diagnosed with ALS on April 28, 2023, at age 47, as a single mom of of 3.

Life had started changing for Corrie before her diagnosis. She was medically retired from being a Police Officer with CSPD in 2012 after serving for 13 years. She decided to go back to college and was nearing the end of her goal; she was accepted into a Physical Therapist Assistant degree program in the Fall of 2022. Unfortunately she had to withdraw in January 2023 due to her symptoms making life much more difficult–one of the hardest decisions she has had to make. It was clear that something life changing was happening in her body and after much prayer, she realized there was no other option.

ALS has drastically affected her balance muscles.  She can walk very short distances with a brace used for what is called drop foot. She uses a cane or walker to get to the car or from the car to a store cart and the currently has a motor cart that breaks down and goes into her car. It is heavy though and she cannot move that cart on her own. Her ALS team anticipates her needing full mobility assistance within the next 6 months to a year and she has been measured for a specialized wheelchair for ALS patients that will help as she progresses. She will absolutely need a wheelchair van for this chair.

Corrie has three beautiful reasons to fight this disease– Calli is 26 and finishing up her last clinical rotation here in COS. She will graduate in Dec with a degree in Chiropractic. Lydia is 13 and just started 8th grade. Isaiah is 10 and just started 5th grade. Corrie’s kids have always been her highest priority and while she is praying for miraculous healing, she is also focused on taking care of her children and preparing for her children’s future.

Corrie is asking her blue family to help with the expense of the wheelchair van. The van is expensive due to conversions being approximately $30,000.

Money donated will 100% first go towards a mobility van. If there is any extra it will be used for the costs for medicine, medical equipment not covered by insurance, and the preparations that will need to be made to make Corrie’s transition into the next stages of her life as easy as possible for her whole family. Money will 100% be used towards ALS specific needs. 

Corrie and her support team value your prayers, and appreciate anything you can do to help; whether that is spreading awareness about ALS and the current attempts at a cure, donating money here, or sharing the link for others to see. Even $5 and $10 donations add up so sharing is appreciated!

From Corrie and everyone she considers family; we love you for caring about Corrie’s life right now and we pray and wish you the best in your journeys.

About ALS

ALS is what doctors call an “degenerative upper motor neuron disease”. This is because ALS causes the neurons in your brain that specifically control motor function (or movement) to demyelinate and die. Myelin is a thick protective layer around our neurons that allows them to send messages from our brain to our body and then back. As demyelination occurs, these myelin layers slowly shrink until they no longer serve their purposes for their respective neurons. If you’ve ever heard of the term “use it or lose it”, that applies here. As neurons stop sending messages and muscles stop receiving messages, they both slowly waste away. ALS typically has a prognosis of 2-5 years of life; however, approximately 10% of people have made it past the 10-year mark. (Corrie is aiming for that 10+ year mark!) Per ALS.org an estimated 5,000 people are diagnosed every year and an average of $250,000 is spent out of pocket caring for an individual with ALS. ALS has no cure, and while research has recently made profound progress in medicine for the genetic versions of ALS, it is only the beginning of what researchers think is possible if they had the funding necessary.