Woman with ALS shares why she will use Maine Death with Dignity [Video]

A Lewiston woman WMTW interviewed last year about her battle with ALS has decided to end her life with the Maine Death with Dignity program.The ALS Association says amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.Victoria Purdum was diagnosed in 2022 after taking a genetic test. The last year we spoke with her she was using a walker and posting on her YouTube page called “Victoria Battles ALS” to raise awareness and connect with people all over the world also dealing with the disease.“Since then, I’ve lost my legs, I can’t walk with my walker and I’ve switched to a wheelchair,” Victoria told us last week. “I can’t get around like I used to. It’s been a constant loss of function; that’s what happens with ALS.”Her wife, Dr. Trudi Chase, retired when Purdum was diagnosed so she could take care …