In memory of Eddie Cotugno

My husband, Eddie, and I first learned about his ALS diagnosis 5 months after getting engaged in 2021. Eddie was 33 years old. He was losing his balance at work and starting having trouble climbing stairs. Once the diagnosis came our entire world crumbled around us. How will we get through this? What do we do now? Our wedding was almost completely planned and unfortunately we decided to cancel it because we weren’t sure how progressed Eddie would be by our wedding date. We then rushed to get married three months later and planned a smaller, intimate wedding which was wonderful. I vowed then to protect and care for him all the days of our lives.

I was Eddie’s primary caregiver and was with him every unfortunate milestone of the way. To say that this is the most gut-wrenching and exhausting (physically, mentally, emotionally) disease that exists is an understatement. Eddie was on life support by December 2022. Eddie went from a capable, determined, lover-of-life, beautiful 33 year old man to needing life support without being able to move, speak, or eat by 35. Nothing is worse. No disease is worse. We all need to keep the determination to help fight and end the cruelest of cruel, known as ALS.

As much as I want to put ALS behind me for the rest of my life, I will continue to pursue action for my beloved husband, Eddie. And I can’t wait for the day when I can tell him, “we did it”! Let’s all be fighters like Eddie. Let’s get this disease cured.