The photo shows a beautiful woman with a beautiful family.

What the photo doesn’t show is that Danielle has lost the use of her arms, legs, and much of her ability to speak, and is in the process of losing the ability to swallow.

Danielle is suffering from ALS Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a motor neuron disease that has no known cure.

The disease affects virtually every part of the body except for the brain so eventually the victim is trapped inside the body with all of his or her mental faculties.

Sherrie LeVan, a Ladera Ranch Realtor, a member of the LARCS Board and President of the Ladera Ranch Chamber of Commerce, and I recently met with Danielle, who had her mumbled words translated by her daughters.

Danielle and her husband, Alfred, a City of Los Angeles firefighter, spent a year seeking a diagnosis after she began to have pain and spasms in her feet and legs.

Doctors first thought she had a brain tumor and, when that was ruled out, it was thought she might have Multiple Sclerosis. After a year of tests, it was determined that she suffered from ALS and given three to five years to live.

"We spent the next two years and all of the family’s reserves trying to find a treatment," Danielle told the Ladera Times. "When we ran out of money, we had to accept the reality of the situation."

And, sadly, the reality is that Danielle is in the third year since the disease was diagnosed and her condition is rapidly deteriorating.

She said it is getting very hard for her to eat and she has lost 15 pounds. "If I lose any more weight, I will have to be fed through a feeding tube," she said, adding that she has decided not to accept any heroic measures to keep her alive, including no feeding or breathing tubes.

ALS usually strikes older people, but the younger the victim is, the more aggressive the disease. Danielle says she is in constant pain, but won’t take any pain killers because she wants to remain alert during her final days.

She said she is going to spend what time she has left focusing on life and raising funds to keep her two daughters in school -- Brittney at Santa Margarita Catholic School, and Jessica at Serra Catholic Middle School.

"I need to have the peace of mind knowing that my daughters are getting an education based on our faith," she said.

Danielle graduated from Santa Ana College and created a very successful jewelry and chandelier design business before she was struck with ALS.

She and hubby Alfred were sweethearts at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana. They married at age 20 and started a family early with the goal of having the children on their own by the time they were in their mid-40s so they could retire early and enjoy the rewards of a successful life.

Now, instead of looking forward to an early retirement, Danielle is depended on constant care by her father, Albert Magee, 65, of Lake Arrowhead, who has moved in with her to see to her every need.

Following our meeting with the Camacho family, Sherrie LeVan, who herself is one of Ladera Ranch’s most precious resources, sprung into action and called upon members of the Ladera Ranch Chamber of Commerce and other community leaders to assist in a fundraising effort to help Brittney and Jessica finish their education and to provide Danielle with the peace of mind she so desperately deserves as she faces the final chapter of her life. And the response has been overwhelming.

    n Jason Glass of Avendale Insurance Services and Olivio Gomez of
                 Edward Jones Financial teamed up to create the Camacho Girls 
                 Education Fund, with Jason and Sherrie LeVan acting as Special 
                 Co-Trustees and Olivio acting as Financial Advisor to the 
                 Camacho family. Jason also donated a new Apple laptop for 
                 Brittney’s school work and a rebate of insurance commissions to 
                 the extended Camacho family;

    n Ron Sinclair of 5 Star Cleaning is volunteering house cleaning;

    n O’Connell Landscaping is caring for the Camacho’s yard;

    n Andrei Hall of It A Grind held a fundraiser on February 14;

    n Ladera Ranch Chamber of Commerce collected donations at 
                 its February mixer;

    n Claire & Lonnie Shepherd of Infusion Restaurant and Martini 
                 Bar hosted the February Chamber of Commerce Mixer and 
                 fundraiser;

    n Chick’s Sporting Goods donated money;

    n The LA City Fire Department donated wheelchairs and various 
                 other equipment and lift for Danielle’s use in her home;

    n BeachFire Grill and Station 58 of the Orange County Fire 
                 Authority held a joint fundraiser at BeachFire on 
                 March 3 raising almost $2,000 for the Camacho Girls 
                 Education Fund;

    n Therapeutic Touch is donating a full massage once per week 
                 to ease Danielle’s pain;

    n Brooks Travis of The Law Offices of H. Brooks Travis has 
                 agreed to serve as the estate attorney for the Camacho 
                 Girls Education Fund;

    n Jerry Marroquin of Newport Rib is hosting upcoming fundraiser 
                 at the restaurant;

    n Partyland is donating 20 percent of all sales in the store 
                 on March 11.

Those wishing to make a donation to the Camacho Girls Education Fund can do so at Edward Jones Financial, 999 Corporate drive, or Avendale Insurance at 87 Zinnia Street, both in Ladera Ranch, 92694. For info, call 949-347-0833.

(Editor's Note: To Read a Letter from Danielle Camacho to Ladera Times Editor and Publisher, Jim Schmitt, click on A Letter from Danielle.)