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Walking for Leslie
The McCarthy family, of the Oasis Christian Center in Rahway, NJ is your average American family. Fred McCarthy is the pastor of the church, which his father founded, and his wife Leslie is an average pastor´s wife. When not raising her two kids, or being a wife, she helps run the women's ministry and programs for the married couples at Oasis.
She does this, however, without being able to talk, walk, feed herself or move in a way an average person can move.
According to McCarthy, Leslie has been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” for 10 years. The ALS Association web site (www.alsa.org) describes it as a “a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.”
But yet with the roll of her eyes, a board with letters and phrases called an "augmentative communication board," Leslie is able to communicate to help run the programs.
"We do face a few more challenges when you are at this level of the disease," said McCarthy. "It looks as if the muscles in her eyes are weakening." And with the weakening eyes, Leslie will be unable to communicate.
When in December 1999 Leslie began demonstrating some rather unusual symptoms, including slurred speech and walking in an odd manner, they visited a neurologist, who recommended they visit Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. “We had no idea what to expect, and the doctor from Columbia Presbyterian in a very cold way told Leslie she had ALS and he said, 'You have three to five years to live,'" McCarthy recalls. “When we came home that night, we cried and came to terms with it, but ultimately, we have said we will choose life."
And for the next 10 years, both he and Leslie would continue to live and function as best they could. "I would basically say it is like she is sitting in a chair but can't move," said McCarthy.
McCarthy met Leslie back in 1980 at a Christian roller skating night. They married and in 1987, McCarthy took over Oasis Christian Center, the church his father had pastured for many years. "He had died of a massive heart attack," said McCarthy. "And after some deliberation and prayer I took over as pastor."
McCarthy and Leslie had their first daughter, Britney, in 1995. When Britney was just 4 years old, Leslie was diagnosed with ALS. A few months after she was diagnosed, she discovered she was 3 months pregnant. Although Leslie´s doctors encouraged her to terminate the pregnancy, the McCarthy family chose life. McCarthy adds, "Like I said, we chose life and yeah, it got to the point I had to carry her because she could no longer walk, but she ended up giving birth to our son Andrew. He is now eight years old. It is amazing how many times Leslie has beaten the odds.”
McCarthy said that in spite of his wife´s illness, she still remains involved with the church. He explained, "People who meet Leslie say she is an encouragement to them considering how God has worked through her. They will see how she pushes on in spite of her illness." He said because of Leslie´s perseverance, "people who suffer from their own setbacks – illness, family or even financial (especially financial these days) - know there is hope." McCarthy says that he is constantly receiving e-mails and messages from people who are encouraged by Leslie´s fight.
As for being a caregiver, McCarthy said he constantly has to watch his health. "Earlier this year I had had an infection and had to be rushed to the emergency room," said McCarthy. "But I take care of myself so I can take care of her."
McCarthy said one verse he holds on to is Philippians 3:12 which says, "Not that I have already attained, or am perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."
McCarthy said his family faces two reoccurring concerns: finances and a constant fight against pneumonia.
"She needs $8,000 to $10,000 a month to cover her care," said McCarthy.
Thanks to the "Walk for Leslie," which held its 5th annual fundraiser in Rahway this past May, the McCarthy family has received help to raise the money. "This year, we raised enough money to pay for six months of medical finances, but I will admit there was a concern there," said McCarthy. "I have even been thinking about taking a second job to help raise the money and it seems God keeps telling me, ‘No’ and He will provide."
"Last year we had a couple hundred people who have helped support Leslie," said McCarthy. "I have seen God do some amazing things and I believe He will continue to do so."
For more information, visit the Leslie McCarthy Family Fund website at www.lmff.org.