John Folger

Welcome to our Caring Bridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


John was noticing some health changes over the past year.  He was experiencing weakness in the right leg, and instability while standing or walking. With help from a team of medical professionals and many tests, the diagnosis came in August 2021. John was diagnosed with Bulbar ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) aka Lou Gehrig's disease. It is a progressive disease that effects nerve cells (or neurons) within the brain and spinal cord.  There are different types of ALS. John has both Limb and Bulbar onset ALS. This involves his limbs, breathing, speech and swallowing. It is a faster progressing form of ALS. John is being treated through a team approach by the clinicians at the ALS clinic within the VA. His care team consists of a doctor, nurse coordinator, registered dietician, OT and PT therapist, respiratory therapist, social worker, and speech/swallow therapist. With support from family, friends, medical professionals, and his faith, John is in great hands. In spite of these changes that are happening, he feels very blessed to have a full life and is living each day more grateful than the last.