Fort Myers nurse gets surprise gift from coworkers after ALS diagnosis

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Jeff Bower had no clue what would be waiting for him when he arrived outside Gulf Coast Medical Center. It had been months since he entered the hospital’s Emergency Department as a seasonal nurse after he was diagnosed with ALS last year. 

He was greeted by dozens of coworkers gathered together and cheering at his arrival. 

“It’s better than Christmas and your birthday and everything put together because you just know you have everybody rooting for you,” Janah, Jeff’s wife and a fellow seasonal nurse at Gulf Coast said. 

Gaby Foglia, a nurse within the Emergency Department, helped coordinate the surprise. Staff collected $5,000 to help with Jeff’s medical expenses, which have climbed to nearly $100,000 since his diagnosis. 

“We want [Jeff and Janah] to know that we’re going to be here no matter what,” Gaby said. 

Jeff is currently undergoing stem cell treatment to help slow or reverse the impacts of ALS. He hopes to one day return to work. 

“When you have people like this, it just makes you want to fight and move forward,” Jeff said. 

If you’d like to support Jeff through his treatment, you can do so here.

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