Financial Support for the Johnston Family

9/7/2023 Update:

The family of Scott is very grateful of the support you provided them throughout Scott's fight with ALS. Your generosity helped to sustain them as they faced the financial burdens that go along with caregiving and other medical needs. Moving forward, we are halting the monthly recurring donations. Please know how much your support meant to the family!

Scott Johnston, and his family, got life changing news last year. Scott, at 35 years old, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). ALS is a disease of the parts of the nervous system that affects voluntary muscle movement and has no cure. The diagnosis came as a complete shock and the progression of the disease has moved quickly and Scott’s needs are ever changing as time goes on. Currently, Scott has lost all ability to move his arms and legs. He drives his wheelchair with a head array and is transferred from his bed and chair with a Hoyer lift. He has a tracheotomy tube and is on a ventilator 24 hours a day. And as of recently, swallowing is starting to become a challenge for him. 

Ashley, Scott’s wife, takes care of Scott full time now. The family hires private duty help for a few hours in the morning and an hour or two at night to allow for Ashley to get their daughter to and from school and run errands if needed. As you can imagine, the financial demand on the family is substantial. Despite the stress they face, they are unwavering in their devotion to their two children, Macy age 4 and Jett age 2. Their dedication, love & patience is remarkable considering the circumstances they face each day. 

As family & friends, we are initiating a fund for the family that can go towards their everyday necessities as well as Scott’s needs- treatment, medical equipment, private duty costs, and any other need that arises for them. The fund allows for a recurring monthly donation which would be beneficial as it would allow them to plan for their expenses each month, and it also has an option for a one time donation. With Scott not working and Ashley unable to pick up many hours at the hospital due to caring for Scott and the kids, this fund will allow them to live, allow Ashley to be Scott's nurse while also caring for the kids, allow for a few private duty hours each day so Ashley can step away and take Macy to school, go to appointments, run errands, etc., and potentially allow them to afford a night nurse, as they are up multiple times in the night due to Scott's care. The cost of a night nurse in itself is approximately $2,000 per week.

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