Remembering Holly Ladd, ALS advocate

Way before the #IceBucketChallenge became the cool way to contribute to the fight against ALS, Holly Ladd was raising money and raising awareness as a public policy health advocate tackling everything from AIDS, to mental illness to mobile medical technology in under-served locales. There’s even an award named for her.

Holly was a powerful and compassionate problem solver for those in need. In 2012 she was diagnosed with ALS, the disease that robs the body of muscle control, including the ability to speak. It didn’t stop Holly. She started blogging about her disease with insight and humor.

Among my favorites: “Bad things happen. Grace is the ability to take on the bad things well and karma is the gift of having people around who care and help.”

Despite being in the final phase of her illness, trapped in a wheelchair, sapped of energy and no longer able to speak, she graciously agreed to let "TechKnow" invade her home for the day for our story on the ground-breaking voice message banking system. Using an eye-tracking computer she spoke volumes about living with her illness—and again—problem solving for others with ALS.

Holly passed away in July, four months after we met. While I am fortunate to say I never needed her professional help, I am fortunate enough to say that my brief encounter with her touched me so deeply that her spirit is still very much alive to me. We thank Holly wherever she is and wish her family strength and peace.