A Champion’s Spirit: Frosty’s ALS Journey
In January 2021, Michael Foster, known lovingly by most as “Frosty”, was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 52. A moment that changes everything. But if you know Frosty, you know that even ALS couldn’t shake the foundation of who he is: strong, loyal, and full of life.
Frosty’s love of sports shaped his life from the very beginning. He played soccer at Michigan State University, and to this day, you’ll still catch him proudly repping Green and White. After college, he moved to California for a career in packaging engineering, spending his free time outdoors and staying active through soccer, basketball, tennis, and volleyball. Energy and joy never left him.
In late 2020, small changes in his right hand set off a series of appointments that led to a diagnosis no one wanted to hear. Four additional specialists confirmed it: ALS.
At the time, Frosty and his wife were raising two young daughters, just 9 and 11 years old. They quickly made the difficult decision to sell their home and find a space that could support Frosty’s changing needs. With support from family, they began renovations on a new one story house, working hard to adapt as quickly and safely as possible.
Since then, Frosty’s ALS has progressed. He’s undergone multiple treatments and continued to face the disease with grace, even as it’s taken much of his mobility. He can no longer lift a fork, dress himself, or do the very things he once engineered solutions for. But his spirit? It’s steady. It’s strong. And it’s contagious.
Let Hope Grow was honored to help Frosty’s family by providing a new shower chair and a cough assist machine to help maintain his comfort and safety at home. This equipment allows Frosty to stay in his space with dignity, surrounded by the people who love him most.
Frosty still finds joy in the simple things: cheering on his Spartans, being near the water, and spending time with his daughters and wife. His story is one of strength, adaptation, and the deep power of community.
Let Hope Grow is proud to be part of Team Frosty.
Want to Help More Families Like Frosty’s?
Families facing ALS often need urgent, ongoing support and your generosity makes that possible. Let Hope Grow exists to meet those needs through donations, community outreach, and direct assistance programs. Every gift, no matter the size, helps us show up for more families like the Fosters.
If Frosty’s story moved you, we invite you to donate today and be part of this mission. Together, we can keep showing up, one family at a time.