Mitchell family donates ALS equipment in memory of loving wife and mother

A generous gift presented to the Regional West Rehab Center by the family of Gay Franco is a lasting reminder that the Mitchell woman wanted to help other victims of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the only way she could – by giving them early access to an expensive ALS communications device that she was too sick to use.

 Franco died on January 30 of ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) – a nervous system disease that affects muscles and bodily functions. In just a few months, it robbed her of her ability to move and speak. Her condition was made worse by an existing case of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

 As the disease quickly progressed, her husband, Ed, ordered a $17,700 device that allows a person who cannot speak to communicate by the gaze of the eyes. Unfortunately, insurance approval for the device was so slow that by the time the equipment arrived, she was too weak to use it. 

 “Gay didn’t want others to have to wait like she did to get this machine,” said her husband Ed. “By donating it to the hospital, we hope that others can use it while they wait for approval to purchase their own machines.”

 The Franco family donated the communications device to The Rehab Center through Regional West Foundation. Linda Lawlis, MS, CCC-SLP, a speech language pathologist with The Rehab Center said the Franco family donation is greatly appreciated. It will be used by speech language pathologists at The Rehab Center to help patients learn to use assistive technology to communicate as their ability to speak weakens.

“This device allows the Speech Language Pathology department to train individuals earlier, before they qualify (to receive a personal communication aid) according to insurance regulations,” said Lawlis. “In addition, we can now train multiple staff on a new device which increases our availability to patients in need.  I had the pleasure of meeting Gay when she could verbally communicate. She and her family will be remembered for their sacrifice and generosity.”

In honor of Gay Franco’s generous donation to The Rehab Center, Regional West Foundation will attach an engraved plate of acknowledgement to the communications device and will add an engraved leaf to the Regional West Foundation Tree of Life donor recognition wall.

The mission of Regional West Foundation is to serve the regional community in cooperation with Regional West Medical Center by seeking and administering donations in support of quality health care services and education.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 182-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.