Heather Jacobs
Struck by ALS
Benefit being held on October 5th, 2024 at Burdy's Sports Bar and Grill in Weyerhaeuser, WI at 11-5pm
Heather Jacobs was diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease, on Wednesday, July 24th, 2024. All funds raised will help with raising her son, medical bills, treatment travel/hotel/gas, wheelchair ramp, overdue/future living expenses and funeral arrangements. Donating today will provide relief for Heather and her family to focus on making memories with family and friends.
Heather had been struggling to find a diagnosis and relief since July 2023, losing 35lbs since February, several different doctors, and endless tests to receive the words that her and her family dreaded the most at her young age. Turning 42 yrs old on August 15th, doctor's said that Heather is going to lose her life to ALS over the next 1-2 years. The disease has been aggressively progressing since February and already affecting her day to day life immensely. Walking, Sleeping, eating, showering, and talking is extremely exhausting. Things that we don't put thought into doing each day like putting your hair up in a pony tail requires a lot of concentration for her to do. Tasks are frustrating and heartbreaking realizing she can not be the very independent and hard working person we all know her to be. No longer able to work, she has had to close up her dream and business of Soft Maple Painting.
Although her receiving benefits such as SSI and Disability are possible, the process is long and she may not be with us long enough to be approved for these. Chiropractic in Ladysmith, Occupation Therapy in Rice Lake, Speech Therapy in Barron, Sleep Study in Eau Claire, Neurology and ALS Clinic in Rochester, MN are all costly and accrue travel related expenses as well.
Heather is and will always be known for her love of family, fishing, and friends. She has always worked herself to the bone to take care of the things and people that are important to her. Always a giving and helpful soul with touch of sass and dark humor. Raising her children, Jonathan and Lacy, is the best thing that she has ever done and she is so proud of both of them.
Jonathan, Johnny, is graduating high school in 2025 and is currently at Basic Training and is set to graduate August 23 in Missouri, where she plans to attend. Lacy recently got married in May and it was such an important day for Heather to be able to see her daughter get married. Randy, boyfriend of 3 years, is her absolute soul mate and best friend. He has been with her every step of the way, through the doctor appointments to the heartbreaking day of the diagnosis and coping with the all of the emotional stress to follow. It deeply saddens her and us all that they have only had these few years to spend together.
The Hagstrom family, especially Dom, have been extremely helpful. Heather has had the pleasure of having Dom work from her the last 2 summers. Best friend to Johnny since kindergarten, Heather has truly enjoyed watching him grow up into the man he is today. Dom has always been like a son to Heather.
All of her family and friends have been beyond supportive. We would like to send a special thanks to Randy, Johnny, Lacy, Dom, Roxanne, Kyann, Sheri, Karen, Jodi, and Marsha. They have had some amazing adventures together but each one is more and more precious.
About Heather:
- Bruce, WI resident since 5th Grade
- Small business owner of Soft Maple Painting
- 2 children
- Jonathan Jacobs, Johnny, turning 18yrs old in October 2024, graduating from Basic Training on August 23, 2024 and from Bruce high School 2025.
- Lacy Bankes, turning 20yrs old in November 2024, married Tyler Bankes on May 19, 2024.
- Randy Kramer, boyfriend and soulmate of 3yrs
- Dom Hagstrom, coworker and Johnny's friend
- Roxanne Olson, mom
- Close Friends
- Kyann Kisling
- Sheri Wallace
- Karen Zebro
- Jodi Hopkins
- Hagstom Family
- Marsha Bronn-Esser
- A progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
- Brain loses connection with muscles, slowly taking away the ability to walk, speak, eat and eventually breathe.
- Very rare. Less than 20,000 case a year.
- Treatment can help, but this condition can't be cured.
- $250,000 is the estimated annual OUT-OF-POCKET cost for care.
- Average life expectancy of 2-5 years.
