Brad Pessmeg has been a member of the La Porte community for the past 15 years. Growing up in Valparaiso, Pessmeg moved to La Porte when he began working for his brother-in-law at Land Heating and Air Conditioning as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technician. For someone just putting down roots in the city, it was an excellent opportunity for Pessmeg to get to know his new neighbors.
“There were so many nice people that we installed for,” Pessmeg said. “When you come to fix the air conditioner when it's 90 degrees out, you're the hero for the day.”
The job had a lot of physical demands: working with tools, crawling into tight spaces, lifting heavy objects, the whole nine yards. It wasn’t uncommon after a long day of working to be left fatigued and sore. When a pinched nerve in his left hand wouldn’t go away though, Pessmeg began to suspect that he was dealing with more than the normal aches of the workday.
“It started in my left hand, and I originally thought it was a pinched nerve because I couldn't hold a nail in my fingers and hammer it,” said Pessmeg. “I saw three neurologists here in La Porte, and they said it could be motor neuron disease. They said, ‘We want to make sure; how do you feel about going to Cleveland Clinic?’ We made the trip over there after seeing three neurologists around here.”
On February 25, 2021, Pessmeg was diagnosed with limb-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease beginning in the limbs that results in the progressive loss of voluntary muscle control. In the two years following Pessmeg’s diagnosis, he and his family have had to adapt to his continual loss of mobility.
“I loved to bicycle around the area. I have participated in Bike the Drive in Chicago and the Apple Cider Century. I never rode 100 miles in a day, but that was always a goal. I did ride the Kal-Haven trail both ways for a total of 60 miles,” said Pessmeg. “I had to sell my bicycles and trade them for a power wheelchair.”
Pessmeg and his family have had to make changes to their home to make it more accessible, including the installation of ramps and high toilets that Pessmeg can more easily use. Additionally, Pessmeg’s wife has begun working from home to help her husband throughout the day.
Despite these radical changes, Pessmeg is still grateful to wake up and meet each day. He’s incredibly grateful for the community he is a part of and especially for his family.
“My wife helps me out tremendously. My brother-in-law that I used to work for has helped us out so much with different things. My uncle and his friend came over and installed the toilet that I bought for no charge,” Pessmeg said. “Our daughter and our granddaughter come over here. If I need anything, my daughter will bring it over to me or run to the dollar store or whatever. She's a big help. I have a good family support group.”
Recently, Pessmeg began fundraising for a mobility van.
“With a mobility van, I can sit in my chair, roll right up in it, strap my chair down, and away we go,” said Pessmeg. “Right now we have a minivan, and my wife has to get the wheelchair in the back of the minivan after she gets me in the front seat. A mobility van would make my life and especially her life easier because she's the one that has to struggle with my wheelchair – this thing weighs 440 pounds.”
Pessmeg is raising money on GoFundMe, and his sister is running a fundraiser through Avon Products to help Pessmeg achieve his goal. Regardless of how much people donate, Pessmeg is moved by the people coming together to help him and his family.
“Quite a few people have been very generous with their donations,” said Pessmeg. “They're taking money out of their pocket for gas or food or whatever, especially with the price of everything, and they're giving it to someone that they don't know or that they hardly know. Anybody that gives money to crowdfunding, no matter the amount, I think is very generous.”
To donate money to the Pessmegs for a mobility van, visit the family’s GoFundMe.
To support Pessmeg through his sister’s Avon fundraiser, click here.