In 2000 my wife, Marcy, was winning 5 and 10K races she ran. She was room mother and Brownie troop leader for our daughter (now 15) and soccer mom for our son (now 19.) In August of 2000, she was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. This is a motor neuron disease which doctors say is always fatal. 50% of patients die within 3 years of diagnosis. Marcy has chosen life.
October of 2000 Marcy resigned her executive director position at Happy Tales Humane - the no kill animal shelter she started in Franklin, TN. She stopped walking Thanksgiving of 2001, had to get a feeding tube to eat September of 2002, and since March of 2003 has been quadriplegic and on a ventilator in our living room at home. As Marcy's caregiving took more and more of my time, I had to leave the advertising agency I helped start. Since March of 2003, caring for Marcy has been my 24/7/365 job.
Our income is almost entirely gift income, much of it through FlowersForMarcy.com. Blessedly, we have been able to keep our home but it is woefully inadequate for wheelchair accessibility. We are petitioning for Marcy to be featured on the television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition so she can see her children's rooms for the first time in five years. Click here for our extreme wish list. Click here for our video application.
Marcy Payne is a fellow animal lover who started Happy Tales Humane, the no-kill animal shelter in Franklin, TN. She had to resign her position with the non profit to fight for her life after a diagnosis of ALS. Happy Tales still rescues and finds homes for hundreds of pets each year. Now it is our turn to help rescue Marcy.
Ty, we the undersigned implore you and all the good folks at abc's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to help Marcy and her family enjoy their life to the fullest.
