In September 2023, Jill’s daughter Katie welcomed her first child, a beautiful daughter named Sophia. Just three months later, Katie received the diagnosis no family can ever prepare for: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
The years and months since have been a crash course in heartbreak, resilience, and the extraordinary power of community. Their community has rallied, from every chapter of Katie’s life, people have shown up in ways big and small. Love has held this family together.
But the person holding the daily pieces, holding Sophia, holding Katie, holding hope—is Katie’s mom, Jill.
The Highs and the Lows
When Katie was admitted to the hospital from September 1 to October 21, 2025, the family found themselves facing a level of care they could no longer manage alone. Dave, Katie’s husband and an ER physician, never left her side. As Katie lost her ability to move or speak, he became her voice, her advocate, and her constant companion.
And Jill became everything else.
While Katie underwent a tracheotomy on September 24 —Sophia’s second birthday— Jill was home blowing out candles with her granddaughter. She was balancing hospital updates with toddler tantrums, the emotional weight of ALS with the practical demands of raising a busy two-year-old. She moved into Katie and Dave’s home full-time to keep Sophia’s world steady, and drives to a local restaurant five nights a week to serve tables and maintain her own bills and mortgage.
There is no manual for this kind of life. There is only love. Jill shares, “I never expected how much strength love can summon.”
ALS has stripped life down to its essentials for this family. Moments matter more than tasks.
Connection matters more than control. Time matters more than anything.
A Day in Jill’s World
A “typical” day begins before dawn. Sophia wakes up bright and energetic, like most two-year-olds, and Jill starts breakfast, routines, and playtime. Some mornings include helping Dave reposition or comfort Katie after a difficult night. Other days are spent at the playground, the library, or the farm so Sophia can still experience joy and structure.
If Katie has the energy, Jill brings Sophia to her room so mother and daughter can stay connected; watching shows, snuggling, sharing whatever moments ALS still allows. These simple rituals have become lifelines.
Evenings are spent at the restaurant, working the shifts she hasn’t had to cancel at the last minute when ALS demands override everything else.
Exhausting? Absolutely. Is it worth it? Jill never hesitates: “Always.”
This is where we had the chance to step in, thanks to our amazing Martini Club members and donors. The Cocktails & Caregivers Foundation Our Tribe Grant provides childcare assistance for families to help take care of children so that loved ones can remain together through it all.
The Emotional Weight No One Sees
What Jill wishes more people understood is that caregiving isn’t just physical work, it’s emotional labor few are prepared for.
“It can feel like being a punching bag, emotionally. My daughter knows I’ll love her no matter what, so I’m often the one who absorbs her anger, her sadness, her fear. It comes from pain, not malice. It’s part of the cost of loving someone through something this cruel.”
There are unsung heroes in almost every story of ALS. In this family—that hero is Jill Gillick: mother, grandmother, provider, protector, and the steady force holding the Gillick–Murphy family together.
Her love is tireless. Her strength is quiet but extraordinary. Her impact is immeasurable. For our caregivers caring for a loved one with ALS, you may find additional information about Katie’s journey on the website created by the family, katiescureals.com.
Help Us Support Other Caregivers Like Jill
We extend our sincere gratitude to our dedicated C&C community. Your generosity has helped us raise critical funds to support more families like the Gillick family. If you want to help caregivers who remind us to always “Live Loud. Love Deep”, then please consider joining our monthly Martini Club Members, who with their giving help Cocktails & Caregivers fund grants to assist with selfless caregivers like Jill Gillick.
To learn more visit our Martini Club page here.
Learn more about how you can support the mission at cocktailsandcaregivers.org.
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