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Bits ‘n’ Pieces: Fundraiser benefits former Battle Ground teacher

By Sue Vorenberg
Published: January 9, 2015, 4:00pm

Micah Hilario first noticed a growing weakness in his left arm and foot in the summer of 2010.

And when that weakness made it hard for him to hold his newborn baby daughter, the popular teacher and assistant principal at CAM Academy knew it was time for him and his wife to get the problem checked out.

“We didn’t know what to expect — we just figured I’d been having some weakness, so I went to urgent care and they referred me to a neurologist,” Hilario said. “The neurologist told me he was between 85 and 90 percent sure I had Lou Gehrig’s disease. That was a shock that hadn’t entered my mind at all.”

After visiting a clinic in Portland, the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, was confirmed. The disease damages motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to a loss of muscle control, deterioration, and in most cases, death.

It was a very hard thing for the young family to hear.

“It was very shocking for my wife and I,” Hilario said. “We have two young kids, and of course that’s the first thing we thought of. What does this mean for our family?”

It was especially hard after hearing that only a small percent of patients live five years past their diagnosis. But as a parent of young children “you don’t get time to wallow,” Hilario said.

So he stayed at work and kept going. And for the first two years, the weakness didn’t change much, remaining in his left arm and shoulder for the most part.

“After those two years, it spread to my left leg and my right arm,” Hilario said. “And this last year, it really picked up. Now I can’t walk very far. I can walk around the house, but for the most part I use a power chair that I have on loan from the ALS Association.”

The deterioration led him to go on medical leave from his job at CAM Academy this fall. But the school, his students and his friends haven’t forgotten him.

Colleen O’Neil, the CAM Academy principal, and several others in the Battle Ground community have organized a special event to help him get some of the equipment he desperately needs to continue to be able to get around.

“He’s at the point right now where he needs an electric wheelchair and a wheelchair van,” O’Neil said. “We’ve organized a fundraiser as a way for people to see him again and to have an opportunity to help.”

The group has a campaign online at www.gofundme.com/AVanForMicah and is also holding an event at the Mill Creek Pub, 1710 S.W. Ninth Ave., Suite 10 in Battle Ground, on Monday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

A portion of the sales at the pub during those hours will be donated to funding the van, wheelchair and retrofitting part of the Hilario home for wheelchair accessibility. And if at least $250 is raised at the event, Russell Brent, owner of the pub, has said he will donate another $250 on top of the restaurant portion.

“I’m very honored that people are putting this together in my honor,” Hilario said. “It’s very touching.”

Hilario and his family will be at the pub from 3 to 7 p.m. that evening, he added.

Watching Hilario battle against the disease and keep a positive attitude has been inspiring to both her and her staff, O’Neil said, adding that she was sorry to see him have to leave his position.

“He’s amazing,” O’Neil said. “He’s just one of those exceptional educators with an amazing ability to build relationships with kids. He’s been an example to everyone here.”

Facing the low odds hasn’t been easy, but friends, colleagues and family have been a huge help to him getting through it, Hilario said.

“Only 10 percent of cases live beyond five years, and I’m entering my fifth year,” Hilario said. “That makes it a little hard. But my family, everybody has been really great. It’s just been amazing to see people step up when we’ve needed them — and even when we didn’t think we needed them, but did.”

Bits ‘n’ Pieces appears Fridays and Saturdays. If you have a story you’d like to share, email bits@columbian.com.

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