Our Mission
Embracing Life Through Love exists to support, educate, and embrace families living with terminal diseases, primarily ALS - also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Our Vision
We work with passion to bring patients and their families hope and help them heal, emotionally and spiritually, after their devastating diagnosis. We work tirelessly to bring awareness of ALS to our local communities, and raise funds to help patients all over the country.
When Megan Durgan, the founder of Embracing Life Through Love (ELTL), relocated to North Carolina in 2017, we knew that we had to find a 'new direction' for ELTL. We could no longer help in the same ways we had in the past, but we still wanted to help!
HOW WE HELP
ELTL provides assistance both financially and practically to help alleviate the financial burden, and the physical burdens felt by those families battling ALS.
We offer support in many different ways;
• Purchasing medical equipment not covered by health insurance
• Providing financial assistance with household expenses
• Helping to pay for travel expenses for family members
• Providing financial assistance to pay outstanding medical expenses so that families can continue to receive care
• Provide financial assistance for home modifications
• Provide manual labor and supplies for home modifications
• Purchase equipment to help make life easier, such as blenders for tube feedings
If you have any need at all, be it financially, or you need some equipment that isn't covered, if you want someone to talk to - please contact us so we can help you.
There is no need that is too big or too small...we will find a way to help with any request you may have.
you would like help setting up a fundraiser to raise much needed funds for your family, we would be happy to make that happen for you.
MATT'S LEGACY
Matt joined the Army directly out of High School in 1990. ALS is consider a 100% Service Connected Disability, and veterans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS.
Matt was was diagnosed with ALS in 2009 at the age of 37 years old.
After a rough few weeks immediately following diagnosis, Matt
made the decision to step up and start living life to the fullest.
He met Jackie in 2010, proposed to her in 2011, and they were
married on New Year's Eve that same year.
Matt used everything he learned about being a soldier to start fighting ALS.
It wasn't an easy road. First he lost the use of his hands and arms - which meant he could no longer feed himself or hug those he loved. Then he lost the use of his legs, and after a brief mental struggle, he accepted the power wheelchair as it gave him back his independence. Matt lived in Florida and loved the beach, so he purchased a beach wheelchair to continue doing the things he loved. He went on a road trip around the USA, went Sky diving with his son, and enjoyed many concerts with those he loved.
Matt fought ALS head on with courage, perseverance, hope and humor. He always took the time to look for the silver lining in everything that happened. He used his experiences to help others learn what was to come. He was honest about the things he had to go through, and he was open to telling anyone what to expect. He was a true believer in the ALS community and always strived to make everyone feel welcome, and to let them know that they were not in this alone.
This is what we have chosen to focus on and continue at ELTL. If we can bring a smile and even just an ounce of the Hope and Humor that Matt tackled each day with to the families that we meet, then we know it would have been worth it.
We are EMBRACING Matt's way of LIVING life, and helping others to live the same way - with hope and humor and a whole lot of LOVE!
