Our Champions
“A Fearless Heart and the Courage to Dream Big”
This month, we honor Monique and every parent who fights for more time, more memories, and a future without ALS. Her grit, love, and unshakable will inspire us to push harder for a cure.
One of the most meaningful parts of my ALS journey has been witnessing Lola’s resilience. I waited a year to disclose my diagnosis when she was around eight. I kept it simple and age-appropriate, but she intuitively knew something had changed. As she matured, so did her understanding of the implications of my ALS diagnosis. She’s pretty much rolled with the punches. As a teen, she’s never been embarrassed by my diagnosis. She helps out a lot with care and will be the first person to translate or clarify what I’ve said when someone has a hard time understanding my speech.
I often think about the legacy I want to leave for Lola. When I was working on my doctorate, I read Grit by Angela Duckworth and it changed how I thought about perseverance. That’s what I want to instill in her: a deep grit, a fearless heart, and the courage to dream big, even if failure is part of the process. I want her to value people’s differences, their stories, and to lead with empathy.
These days, I try to create moments that will last a lifetime. When it was time for prom dress shopping, we went all out, ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ style. I completely blew my budget, but that day, that memory? It was worth every cent. I wasn’t promised these milestones. Doctors said I had 2–5 years. That was twelve years ago. I wasn’t supposed to see middle school graduation, let alone prom. But I’m still here and I cherish every moment.
Even on the hardest days, Lola gives me hope. She is my greatest gift. Watching her grow, thrive, and become her own person reassures me that my struggles with this disease haven’t been in vain.
What I want people to understand is that ALS doesn’t discriminate. I was healthy, then one day, I wasn’t. It deserves the same level of urgency and funding as cancer, because every 90 minutes, someone dies from this horrific disease. I may not live to see a cure, but I fight for the day when no parent has to sit their child down and explain that their body is breaking down, piece by piece.
I believe in this fight. I believe that “incurable is unacceptable.” Like Augie, I believe that with enough attention, funding, and research, we can end ALS. Not just for me, but for Lola, and for every family navigating the impossible.
Dr. Monique Green
Mom, nurse, advocate, and ALS warrior
