My Mother has been a devoted choir teacher for as long as I can remember, prior to her retirement last year. When her students discovered the challenges she was facing during my father’s diagnoses with ALS, she received an anonymous letter representing the choir. In that letter, they spoke of her love and devotion, her being not only a teacher but also like a second mother, providing them with endless support and inspiration through the years. And now, they feel it is their turn to give back.

Within two weeks, the student body had come together to organize a benefit concert, which they called SerenAIDe. To date, SerenAIDe has raised $44,000 for ALS research and our family. What began as an act of compassion from a few empathetic students, has blossomed into an annual community-wide phenomenon. The tremendous outpouring of love from audience members, students, alumni, and colleagues, has been overwhelming.

In honor of my father’s memory, the students and alumni of the JP Stevens high school choir decided to continue the tradition of SerenAIDe into its eighth year. As always, this was an extremely entertaining night, with performances from current and former students, faculty members, and parents.

It is incredible to see the impact my mother has made in these students lives; how one amazing teacher, could do so much. Just the same, these students have been a huge blessing in our lives. It baffles my mind, how did we get so lucky to have this amazing source of community and constant support from such amazing, young individuals? My family, to say the least, is extremely grateful.

During my father’s fight with ALS, he made a choice, to stay strong, positive, to fully live regardless of his limitations, and to create a miracle…to give others hope.  To walk again, to dance with Mom one more time, to walk me down the isle when I get married, to attend my brother’s huge successful orchestra performances.  He wanted to encourage, inspire, teach, heal, love, and give…to leave his legacy behind….to make a mark in the world and give back.  He didn’t quite heal the way he strived for.  But my hope for him is that he knows, wherever he is now, how much he has influenced a world of people.  How he’s inspired and changed lives by the examples he has set, and how he had become the best father I could have ever asked for.

In honor of my father, I was asked to draw our family portrait to include in the very inspirational book he had formulated over the past 11 years during his experience with ALS, which we are now working toward getting published.

An article in the newspaper written about my family and Serenaid: An annual fundraiser my mother’s students organize to raise money for my father and ALS! Incredible, incredible students!

The Courier News wrote an article on my father, Joe Wions, about his experience living with ALS.

A few years back, my father, Joe Wions, had begun writing a book based on his journey with ALS.  Through his experiences with this life altering condition, my father has not only managed to survive, but better his life in many ways.  He is an inspiration.  Through his ambitions and pursuit toward conquering this fatal illness, he is proof that miracles can happen.  Get to know my dad and feel free to be inspired =0).  Check out his blog at:

http://fromnightmarestomiracles.blogspot.com/