My dad just passed 💔
Hello,
My beloved dad just passed away from respiratory failure resulting from his ALS diagnosis.
He had a triple bypass in August 2025 and then a parathyroidectomy in November 2025. He struggled to recover after those two surgeries. He had to give up gardening and eating his favourite foods because he had lost his appetite, and he eventually stopped doing his daily strolls.
However, from February 2026, he began losing weight rapidly and looked like he was always out of breath. We took him to his PCP, had so many scans, multiple hospital visits, nutritionists and respiratory specialists, but no one could figure out what the cause was.
Then, in mid-July 2026, he lost consciousness and was taken to hospital. We were told that his CO₂ levels were dangerously high. The neurologist conducted nerve conduction studies and an EMG, and we were eventually told that he had ALS — what we call Motor Neurone Disease in Australia.
They took him off the ventilator on Wednesday, and he passed away last night from respiratory failure.
I am sitting in the funeral parlour with so many mixed feelings. There is a sense of relief that his suffering has ended, followed by guilt for feeling that relief. I am angry that he had to go through two major surgeries that turned his life upside down, only to eventually be diagnosed with the most aggressive form of ALS. I am fearful about what will happen to my mum, and now I feel completely lost knowing that the heart and soul of our family is gone.
I don't think I have ever seen something as brutal as ALS/MND. I cannot fathom something so cruel and relentless as this disease.
My love and prayers go to all the families and carers who have suffered, and who are suffering, because of this disease.
I hope, for all our sakes, that a cure is on the horizon.