Matt Wild and Theresa Whitlock-Wild are the dynamic duo behind Matt’s Place Foundation, an organization that supports people living with ALS and their families by providing hope, housing, and assistance. For Theresa, however, the last nine years have been a profound act of caregiving, defined not only by the reality of her husband’s diagnosis but by a relentless dedication to improving the lives of others affected by this devastating disease.
Theresa: The Ultimate Caregiver
Five years. That’s the duration that Theresa expected to have to fight for her husband, Matt, taking care of him and their family as he journeyed through his ALS progression.
“I had it in my head that I have to be strong for this long. And then you get to year five and you have to try to comprehend what it means to keep going,” she shares.
Nine years later, Theresa draws on her own learnings to help other caregivers understand that there can be anger and resentment in the rollercoaster of caring for a loved one living with ALS. “You realize, I’m taking care of them, but nobody is taking care of me. And you come to this realization that nobody is coming to save you, this is your life. Then you get to make the decision, are you going to be happy through it, despite the challenges that you’re faced with?”
What she wants caregivers to know is that it’s ok to get as much support you need as soon as possible, and that you don’t need to do this alone. “They cannot be the only caregiver in this situation. They need to start preparing for multiple people to be able to walk in at a moment’s notice and know the routine and what to do, because the reality is that you cannot do it alone, even if you think you can,” she advises, as someone who spent seven years waking up every hour throughout the night to help Matt get comfortable. “You have to mourn the life that you had before and then you have to say, okay, this is the life I have got now. How am I going to play these cards?”
Theresa has played her cards by doing, propelling herself forward by Matt’s Place Foundation’s mission: providing hope and housing for families living with ALS. While Matt’s living through ALS with an uncrushable spirit, Theresa is crushing it as a caregiver, not just for him but for the whole ALS community.
Dating and a Diagnosis
In Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Matt and Theresa found each other in 2014. They had only been dating for three months when the term “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis” punctured their courtship in February 2015. Matt was just 41-years-old. It was an ALS diagnosis that could have sent their lives – and new relationship – into a tailspin, but instead became a catalyst for something much greater.
“We were just dating when he got diagnosed. It was definitely a blow. I remember thinking, ‘What does this mean? What does this look like?’” Theresa recalls. “At the time, I didn’t know much about ALS, even after the Ice Bucket Challenge had gone viral. But when Matt got the diagnosis, it all became real.”
Theresa, a mother of three, who was juggling plenty in her own life at that point, including studying dietetics and then switching her major to obtain a Bachelors in Communications and a Masters in Organizational Leadership shortly after Matt’s diagnosis, leaned in, doing what she now encourages every caregiver to do: “Face it. Prepare for it. The sooner that you’re educated on what it is you’re facing and what you need, the better your journey will be and the more you can be present with your loved ones.”
Despite the shocking reality that Matt’s health would quickly decline during his fifth decade on earth, there was still room for roses and romance. Theresa smiles, “The crazy guy decided to propose and take me and three kids on. He loves my kids like they’re his.”
In a whirlwind of a year, the couple got married as Matt’s disease progressed rapidly. While most families can wait up to two years to receive an official ALS diagnosis, Matt received one within three weeks. His symptoms had included loss of strength in his hands as well as tremors, shaking and twitching in his arms, hands, shoulders, back and chest. They were told that he had just three years left to live and in the first six months, Matt had a feeding tube inserted.
Theresa reflects that life as you know it changes so quickly after an ALS diagnosis, and it’s okay to mourn that. For Theresa and their whole family, including her children, sacrifices would be made to care for Matt, but in it they would find humor, community, and perseverance to help others. She explains, “For me, I wanted my kids to know that no matter what you’re faced with, you can do it with joy and happiness.”
As Matt broke the devastating news to his close family and friends in their small and tight-knit community, he began signing off his emails with “Uncrushable Spirit.”
Nine years later, Theresa says, “That’s the term that he coined and he has really, really lived to that example perfectly. He has lived with this with so much grace and dignity. I’m kind of in awe of his of his strength all the time.”
A Foundation is Formed
It was during these early days that the idea for Matt’s Place Foundation was born. The two of them began brainstorming ways they could make a real difference for families like theirs.
“We knew we had to think differently,” Theresa says. “And I said, ‘What if we built smart homes for families affected by ALS?’” The idea came to her during a late-night conversation about their future together, when Matt had mentioned that living in a two-story home would not be practical due to his progressing symptoms. “I just looked at him and said, ‘I have a house, but other people don’t. What if we built homes that could give families the resources they need to live better with ALS?’”
The idea was so simple and yet so profound. They realized they had to do something more than just offer sympathy to those facing the same diagnosis. They had to provide tangible solutions that would change lives. And that’s exactly what they set out to do. Theresa says, “It was like a jolt of lightning of positivity for both of us.”
By 2017, the foundation had already made significant strides. They had installed ramps and supported numerous bathroom remodeling projects for ALS families. They had partnered with local contractors and community leaders to break ground on their first smart home. Located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, this house was designed specifically for families living with ALS. “We wanted to build a home that would provide both physical and emotional support,” Theresa explains. “This wasn’t just about a roof over someone’s head. It was about giving them a place where they could maintain some sense of independence, where they could continue to live their life with dignity.”
The house, a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath property in a low-maintenance, gated community, was outfitted with basic smart home technology. Family members could control the doors, lights, and temperature through voice commands or a tablet. For families who moved in, this meant freedom—freedom from expensive home modifications and the emotional toll of struggling to adapt an existing space to their loved one’s needs.
The second project that Matt and Theresa worked on focused on sustainable living, with eco-friendly construction a key priority along with addressing the unique needs of the ALS community. Built in Spokane, Washington, “Matt’s House 2.0” utilized Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), a sustainable and strong building material that significantly reduces the home’s carbon footprint. Made from responsibly harvested timber, CLT provides excellent thermal insulation, resulting in energy-efficient living spaces that reduce the reliance on artificial heating and cooling. While the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the process down, the house was officially opened in 2023, with the first family moving in and making it their own in July 2023. Built for a person living with ALS, the Spokane house allows the dweller to control the television, the temperature, the blinds on the windows, the gate and door lock and more with his or her eye gaze. “It’s about quality of life and it’s about independence,” Theresa says.
What has always been imperative to Matt and Theresa is that their foundation is mostly volunteer-led, with 98% of funds raised going directly to their community. Collaboration is also mission critical.
Theresa explains, “We ask for full collaboration – we are asking the entire community including the builders, the donors, the contractors to give a little. The Spokane Home is more than just an accessible residence for individuals with ALS and their families, it’s an example of how a community can come together to accomplish things that have never been done before.”
This drive to break down silos resonates deeply with Ҵý’s approach of radical collaboration in research. United by the belief that breakthroughs happen when we work together, Ҵý works with Matt’s Place Foundation to share research opportunities with the communities that they serve.
Caregiving: Finding Ways to Live Well
For Theresa, Matt’s Place Foundation and what has been achieved so far isn’t just about creating a physical space; it’s about ensuring people could continue to live well during a time when their lives were shrinking in so many ways. “When someone gets diagnosed with ALS, it’s not just the physical challenges that devastate them—it’s the emotional and financial burdens too,” she says. “For some families, the disease progresses so rapidly that they barely have time to adjust. The first year is often the hardest because every day brings a new challenge. A family member may lose their ability to bathe, to use the bathroom, or to get in and out of their home. And on top of that, they often can’t afford the necessary modifications or equipment.”
Because Matt is a former U.S. Marine, he has been hugely supported through his ALS journey by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Theresa realized quickly that other citizens were not as lucky.
“I would visit other ALS families in their homes when we first launched Matt’s Place Foundation. At this point, Matt was losing the ability to walk so he couldn’t accompany me to a lot of places. Listening to their stories, I learned how much they have to pay for – medications, a vehicle, equipment – and it’s untenable.”
Theresa notes that many families fall through the cracks of the healthcare system, waiting weeks or even months for essential equipment like power wheelchairs or lifts. “The process to get a power wheelchair can take up to 16 weeks,” she says. “But by the time it arrives, the person may have already lost the ability to use it. It’s a nightmare. And then you have families who are forced to pay out-of-pocket for these things, which is financially devastating.” These barriers were compounded by the fact that ALS families often live on a fixed income after their loved ones are approved for Social Security Disability, which makes it nearly impossible to afford essential care. “People are going bankrupt. They’re draining their 401(k)s. It’s not just the physical pain of ALS—it’s the financial devastation that comes with it.”
For Theresa, these gaps in care are deeply troubling. “What families need isn’t just sympathy. They need support. They need tangible help,” she says. “If we’re going to extend people’s lives with these drugs, we need to make sure that we are also giving them the tools to live well. It’s not enough to just extend life—it’s about extending quality of life.”
This is why the foundation’s mission has grown beyond providing homes. As Matt’s health continues to decline, Theresa has become more involved in meeting the needs of families navigating ALS. She visits homes, speaks with doctors, and lobbies for more accessible resources. “I want to understand the challenges they are facing and figure out how we can help,” she emphasizes.
Through these conversations, Theresa has learned that the healthcare system often doesn’t consider the long-term needs of people living with ALS. “The medical community is so focused on the disease, but not on the patient. Not on the family,” she explains. “The reality is, this disease is chronic, and it lasts for years. But the resources aren’t designed to handle that. What we need are homes and communities that are built to last—not just for the first year, but for the entire journey.”
Theresa and Matt’s latest project reflects this vision. With the support of a board member, an entrepreneur with a background in architecture and design, they have begun planning a new multifamily housing complex. This new project, located in Spokane, Washington, will use innovative materials like CLT and incorporate solar panels and smart home technology. The goal is to create a community that can support people living with ALS, while also being adaptable for people with other disabilities like Parkinson’s and MS.
“It’s not just about providing a roof over their head,” Theresa shares. “It’s about creating a space that is fully accessible, where people can live independently for as long as possible. We’re building homes that are scalable, sustainable, and repeatable. The hope is to build these kinds of communities all over the U.S. so that no one is left without a place to call home, especially when they need it most.”
But the work doesn’t stop there. As the demand for accessible housing increases, so too does the need for greater awareness and support. “We’re seeing a tsunami of challenges coming in the next decade,” Theresa says. “With 12,000 baby boomers retiring every day, the demand for caregiving will only grow. But we’re not prepared. We don’t have enough staff, and our healthcare systems aren’t ready. That’s why it’s so critical to think ahead, to build the infrastructure we’ll need to care for people with chronic conditions like ALS.”
Despite the enormity of the challenges, Theresa remains hopeful. “Drug research is moving forward. We now have more treatment options than ever before, which gives us hope for the future,” she says. “Now we also need to be ready to support families while they wait for these treatments to catch up. We can’t just treat the disease—we have to treat the whole family.”
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