Polly Hogue's husband passed away from complications of ALS approximately 8 years ago. Polly has since volunteered to help other individuals and families cope with this disease process. Polly was able to provide a personal view on coping with ALS and answer the questions of many confused and heartbroken individuals.
M was a young nurse who was diagnosed with ALS within the past 5 years. She had a husband and a young son. One Friday afternoon several months ago, Polly received a phone call from M's husband. M's caretaker had called out due to illness. M was in need of someone to assist her with bathing and dressing. When learning of this need, Polly immediately dropped her plans for that evening. She traveled to M's house and gave her a bath and dressed her in a pair of "skinny jeans" for a special night out with her husband. Polly also stayed behind to watch M's young son and brought him a special treat for dinner. The following week, M had a significant decline in her condition. The decision was made for M to transition to Hospice care. The following Friday, M lost her battle with ALS. Despite the tragedy of this situation, there was comfort in knowing that M had one final date night with her husband. This would not have happened without Polly's help. Polly has continued to support M's husband in the months following her death. She has been a calming voice on the telephone, as well as a shoulder to cry on. Her selfless actions played a remarkable role in the lives of this family and on other individuals and families affected by ALS.