**Father’s ‘Pinched Nerve’ Diagnosis Reveals Heartbreaking Reality: Facing Motor Neurone Disease with Just Years to Live**
A Tampa family’s world was turned upside down when a seemingly minor health complaint led to the diagnosis of a rare and terminal illness. Andres Albaladejo, a 41-year-old father and former school resource officer, initially believed a sudden twitch in his left arm was simply a pinched nerve. But months later, he and his family were faced with the devastating news that he was actually suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no cure.
It all began in April 2023 when Andres and his wife, Carmen, first noticed the unusual twitch. At first, the couple dismissed it, putting it down to stress or perhaps a minor muscle irritation. “I noticed the twitching and asked what was going on,” said Carmen, 39, a senior accountant. “It was bizarre and a bit worrying, but it didn’t seem serious at the time.”
Despite seeing a chiropractor, who confirmed some nerve compression in his arm, Andres’s symptoms only worsened. Weakness spread, robbing him of his grip strength. As weeks passed, the initial relief at a relatively benign diagnosis faded, and alarm bells began to ring. Seeking answers, the couple approached a neurologist, who conducted a series of electromyography (EMG) tests to measure electrical activity in Andres’s muscles.
The tests, which grew increasingly concerning with each new result, prompted a referral to a specialist ALS clinic. By October 2023, doctors delivered the crushing diagnosis: Andres had ALS—a rare disease most famously associated with the late Professor Stephen Hawking. Relaying the prognosis, they told the family to expect just two to five years together.
The enormity of this news left the family reeling. “I was heartbroken, like my life was being taken away piece by piece,” Andres recalled. “I still have so much of me to give, and the idea that I won’t be here to watch my little girl grow up is the hardest part to bear.” Their daughter, Sofia, just 11 years old, now faces the unimaginable reality of losing her father far too soon.
As is common with such serious diagnoses, Andres and Carmen sought a second opinion, holding out hope for a different outcome. Yet, heartbreakingly, the diagnosis was confirmed. In just eight months, the narrative shifted from a treatable nerve issue to navigating life with a terminal illness, the couple now forced to confront brutal new realities.
Determined not to let the diagnosis rob them of precious time together, Andres and Carmen set about ‘making memories’. Support poured in from friends, family, and even strangers, collectively raising more than £19,000 to fund a course of stem cell therapy in the Cayman Islands in September 2024. Though the treatment initially slowed Andres’s decline, the effects were short-lived, and the family does not have the finances for further therapy. There remains, to date, no approved stem cell treatment for ALS in the United States, and trials are still underway to investigate potential therapies.
Carmen has focused her efforts on ensuring Sofia will always have something to remember her father by. She bought a special book, “About My Father,” for Sofia and Andres to complete together. The keepsake allows Sofia to ask her father questions about his childhood and life—memories to treasure long into the future.
Despite the deteriorating health and daunting outlook, the Albaladejo family remains committed to facing each day with courage and hope. “We are trying to stay strong and make the best out of our situation,” Carmen said. The journey ahead promises to be difficult, but through their resilience and love, they are determined to cherish every moment they have left as a family.
The couple’s story acts as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of seeking prompt medical advice for persistent or unusual symptoms. For the Albaladejos, the focus now is on meaning, legacy, and love—ensuring that as time grows short, their bond grows ever stronger.