On March 24, 2017 three little letters changed the lives of the Hilands/Monroe families forever. Parker Hilands was diagnosed with ALS. After months and months of doctors, tests, specialists and unanswered questions, he received devastating news - he had ALS. So many came together to support us as we quickly tried to put together a game plan. We would enjoy the time together and tackle ALS with everything we had. My Dad was a fighter, and he would not go down without a fight. He was the center of our family, always making us laugh with his outlandish storytelling and wild sense of humor. He loved with his whole heart and there was always a special place for my mom and his family. But the love he had for his grandchildren was unending. He was their G-daddy and he simply wanted to watch them grow.
Sadly, he lost the fight due to complications on May 3, 2017.
ALS is a wicked disease. It robs you of your ability to walk, talk and even breathe. You are left with your ability to see, hear, think and love but you are trapped inside your body. My Dad's ALS was slightly more rare as it began in his diaphram, partly paralyzing it, causing him to struggle to breathe everyday. I can't imagine the fear he felt at struggling to breathe at every moment but he did not show it. He stayed strong until the end and never gave up hope.
This is my family's fourth ALS Walk in Raleigh and will not be the last. We need a cure for ALS and by working together I know we can find one.
I am hoping you will join Team Parker and walk with us on June 25. We will walk to remember my Dad, our G-daddy.
Invite your friends, families and colleagues to help spread the awareness of the urgency to find treatment and a cure. We are hoping to raise $5,000 to help those living with ALS and their families.
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease.
Thank you for helping us reach our fund raising goal! Together we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Why We Need Your Help
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of a person with ALS averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
ALS can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease, yet it still costs loved ones an average of $250,000 a year to provide the care people living with ALS and their families need. Join the movement to provide help and hope today!
