{"id":2177,"date":"2026-06-23T23:31:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T23:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=2177"},"modified":"2026-06-23T23:31:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T23:31:53","slug":"south-florida-woman-turns-als-diagnosis-into-mission-to-inspire-others-to-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=2177","title":{"rendered":"South Florida woman turns ALS diagnosis into mission to inspire others to fight"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><!-- --><!-- --><!-- WPS-5038 -- removed the script from WPS and added the placeholder for trinity player --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- CONTENT --><!--[--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Surrounded by family, friends and supporters, this year\u2019s <u>Walk to Defeat ALS<\/u> champion, Lourdes Machado, was shining with hope.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=2175\">Tartan Army parties with Brazil fans in Miami Beach before World Cup match<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Diagnosed with <u>ALS<\/u> in May 2025, she has turned her journey into a mission to raise awareness and inspire others in the fight against the disease.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cObviously, there\u2019s no cure, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re walking,\u201d Machado said. \u201cWe\u2019re walking so no one else has to go through this again, and so I can spend more time with my daughter and be there for her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>By her side through every challenge has been her mother, Marianela Perez, serving as both caregiver and unwavering source of strength.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>When she first learned of her daughter\u2019s diagnosis, Perez said she wanted her daughter to know she was not alone.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wanted to say I love you a lot and I\u2019m going to be here for you and here to support you,\u201d Perez said. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve done it for the last year, and I will continue to do it. I\u2019m very proud of her. Very proud.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The ALS Association is helping families like Machado\u2019s while also investing in groundbreaking research through its partnership with the <u>University of Miami<\/u>.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=2174\">FWC seeking information on woman found dead on Hollywood Beach in early June<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Researchers are working to unlock new treatments.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p><u>Dr. Nathan Carberry<\/u>, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Miami, said scientists are seeing encouraging progress in genetic treatments that have improved patients\u2019 strength. A development that was once thought impossible.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI liken it to the moon landing, where we\u2019re really seeing, finally, a true impact on a neurodegenerative disease, which is really powerful,\u201d Carberry said.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>For families facing ALS, breakthroughs like these are delivering something that once felt out of reach \u2014 hope.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The money raised through the Walk to Defeat ALS helps families access resources, support and care.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The organization welcomes support year-round.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Check out the <u>ALS Association website<\/u> to learn more about how you can get involved.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=2172\">Miramar police sergeant accused of punching his girlfriend: Miami-Dade deputies<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p><i>This report was produced by Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>South Florida resident Lourdes Machado turned her ALS diagnosis into a mission to inspire others, support families and promote groundbreaking research at UM.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-south-florida"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - 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