My name is Mark Adam Collins and I have been diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a cruel and relentless disease that systematically attacks the body's ability to move, speak, swallow - all the things we take for granted every single day.

I am husband to a wonderful wife and father to two amazing kids (8 and 6 years old), and had a steady job as a software tester.  My life came crashing down last May. After a fall at work, my hand slowly lost its strength and dexterity, and my walking became unsteady. Even my speech started slurring. Confused and afraid, I went for a series of medical tests and appointments, and the worst possible diagnosis was revealed on February 2024 - at only 41 years old, it was discovered that I was suffering from ALS, the most fatal type of motor neuron disease.

ALS severely impacts my speech and ability to swallow food and liquids. My arms and legs grow weaker every day. 

With further progression of the disease, ALS patients become confined to a wheelchair or a bed. Communication may be limited to using only the eyes to communicate through a special assistive device. As basic functions such as breathing become increasingly challenging, it necessitates assistance through feeding tubes and ventilators.

On top of the physical trauma ALS inflicts, the financial costs are astronomical for my young family. 

• Vital meds like Riluizole cost over $500 every month.
• The wheelchair and communication machine I desperately need? A gut-punching $20,000 total.

And since losing my job at the beginning of 2024 as my ALS symptoms worsened, paying for these essentials is simply impossible.

If this is Allah’s plan for me, if this is my test, I accept it and intend to endure it with patience. But at the same time I need some help from the community.  I'm pleading with anyone who can spare anything at all to please donate.

Your support can help cover the costs of meds, equipment, and basic living expenses - and most importantly, it provides hope. 

Hope that I can spend more quality time with my kids. Hope that my remaining years involve some dignity and comfort. Hope that my beloved wife doesn't have to take on this unimaginable burden alone. Anything you can give truly makes a life-changing difference for my family and me during this nightmare situation. 

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.