Diagnosed with ALS amid coronavirus pandemic, Elder grad wants one more trip to The Pit – The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pat Emery, a 1983 Elder High School graduate, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in March during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Emery's friends and family have started a fundraising campaign to get Pat a wheelchair-accessible van so he can make it back to The Pit to see Elder play football this season.(Photo: Provided)

Pat Emerys speech is a little labored these days.

Short breaths break up his sentences, but the occasional pause pales in comparison to the passion and energy that still define his voice.

Pat was diagnosed in early March with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Seven years ago, a traumatic brain injury changed Pat's life.

He was starting to feel better two years ago when he fell from a two-foot step ladder and hit his head again.

My legs just gave out right from under me, said Pat. That was probably one of the first signs.

Last year his oxygen levels started dropping and he was getting weaker. Pat was hospitalized a number of times. He had pneumonia and a blood clot in his hand. Standing unassisted became difficult.

Then last November, Pats wife, Victoria, found him unconscious.

The firemen, as they were transporting me, gave me a big dose of oxygen in the ambulance and I started to come to and the only thing I remember was the firemen telling the hospital that I was blue in color. They told me I was very close to death, said Pat.

He stayed in the hospital for about a month, still without a diagnosis.

Pat said his doctors found a blood clot on his lungs and another in his leg. The treatment for those clots made him feel better.

My wife and I and the doctors thought we finally found the cause, said Pat, but earlier this year in January, he started falling again. After a third fall, Pat went back into the hospital, and one of the doctors Pat met decided to take a closer look at what was going on.

They just put me through the wringer, they flipped me on my head, flipped me on my back, made me stand tons of different testing, said Pat.

The testing and progression of his symptoms led Pat to an ALS specialist.

Ill never forget it. He said, Pat, you do have ALS, and he said, Ill give you six months to a year to live, Pat said through tears. I knew deep down with all the testing and everything that I had it.

But to be told you only have months to live it devastated me.

Remembering that moment, Pats seized by emotion.

Between tears, he said, In that very instant I was told, all I could think of was family and friends. I wanted to tell everybody how much I love them and how much they meant to me in my life. It wasnt about me anymore. It was about them and telling them what they meant to me.

The next day, Pat started calling the people he loves.

It was like everything seemed pressing for me to contact as many people as I could just so I could let them know how I felt about them and let them know that I care for them, said Pat.

And I want to give them a hug but Im not allowed right now because of the (coronavirus). Thats all I want to do is embrace people. Its the hardest thing on earth.

One of the people Pat called was Jim Gardner.

Jimmy being one of my very best friends and its more than just Jimmy, its his whole family. The Gardner family are just amazing people, said Pat. I called them and told them. Jimmy, he says, Pat, you got some time left, this year were gonna go to an Elder game.

And I started crying.

Pat graduated from Elder High School in 1983. Jim graduated in 1981, but they didnt know each other at Elder, they became friends later in the 90s. Soon, they started going to football and basketball games at Elder. Jim even introduced Pat to Victoria and they have two sons, Liam Emery and David Barber, Pat's stepson.

Pats just a fun person to be around, said Jim. Very vibrant. I dont know if youve met Pat, but Pats kind of a big guy and he was an exceptional racquetball player. You would see him and think youre gonna kick his ass but Pat would take you to school.

Pats now confined to a wheelchair. Of course, he picked a purple one, but he doesnt have a wheelchair-accessible van.

So Jim, his wife, Teresa, and their three daughters, Emily, Erin and Ellie, came up with an idea.

We decided we wanted to do something for Pat, said Jim. So we set up this GoFundMe account.

The goal was $45,000 to get Pat a van so he can get to doctors appointments, visit his friends, and hopefully get back to The Pit for a football game in the fall.

We set this up last Monday and in one week we already raised $11,000, said Jim.

Since a WCPO story about Patran last week, the GoFundMe is now up over $15,000 and more people have offered to help.

Ryan Custer, a 2016 Elder grad who suffered a critical spinal cord injury three years ago, and his family have offered to let Pat use their van.

"It means the world to him," said Jim.

It's been a few years since Pat's been able to attend a football game at Elder.

"I've been online and there's dream things to where I could apply for almost like a make-a-wish for people with ALS and you go take an elaborate vacation," said Pat.

"But for me, and who I am, getting in a car and going to an Elder game or going with my wife to getice cream, or going to a friend's house on a warm day, sitting outside in my chair and being with people, that is more important than just taking a big vacation.

"I don't know how long I got ... I know one thing, I'm gonna fight it for as long as I can and be as strong as I can. I've given myself a goal of two years."

The kindness he's received brings Pat to tears again.

"Thank you," he says as the words become more difficult to find. "Just saying thank you doesn't feel enough. There's a ton of good people in this world. It is amazing.

"I just pray that Elder plays this year and I can get there. I want to be there. And I want to be there with my purple shirt on and my purple hat and I just want to have fun."

If you know someone with ALS or want to help in any way you can contact theSouthwest Ohio Chapter of the ALS Association (866-273-2572).

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Diagnosed with ALS amid coronavirus pandemic, Elder grad wants one more trip to The Pit - The Cincinnati Enquirer