Sad News: 'Cake Boss' Mama Has ALS

07/16/2012

Sad news in the Cake Boss family: Mary Valastro, mother to the Cake Boss himself, Buddy Valastro, has been diagnosed with ALS. Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS is a neurodegenerative disease affecting the brain and spine. Buddy issued the following statement regarding his mother's diagnosis:

"I can confirm that my mother Mary – the heartbeat of the Valastro family and Momma to all of Carlo's Bakery –- has been diagnosed with ALS. She is tackling it with the strength and determination she always shows, and the entire family is in this together, fighting for her. We'd like to thank all of our fans for the love and prayers -– it means a great deal to all of us."

Cake Boss airs Mondays at 9|8 c.

--Courtney Reimer

Comments

[Jade Rowe]

hi to the Valastro family and everyone at Carlo's bakery I currently wrote a comment I missed a letter out in my name I am Jade Rowe and I send all my love to mama after the devastating tell her I love her and that she is my role model she is a great inspiration lots of love and prayers jade (12)xxxxx

[Jade owe]

hi to everyone at Carlo's bakery and the Valastro family I am so sorry for what happened to mama I would love to hear how she is getting on I send all my prayers and pray everyday that she gets better tell her I send all my love and hope she gets better real soon just keep your heads held high she is a fighter so I'm sure she will get rid off it real soon love jade (12)xxx

[Amy Kneale]

Hey everyone at the Carlo's bakery family,
My Prays are with you every single day for mama, who has truly inspired me with her strenght to carry on fighting with my own illness of CFS/ME. Mary is a wonderful woman who has given us Bobby, Grace and everyone else. Everyone with you inspires me with new flavours and designs and strenght and just happyness. Mary Go beat this thing and don't let anyone tell you it can't be done!!!

[Mary kneisel]

I have someone with ALS come to my school every year and tells about his journey.me and my friends raised over 775 dollars to to find a cure. When something bad comes you get a good thing out of it. PS your whole family's in my heart.

[josie napoli]

To the valastro family i watch your show in perth Western Australia i love you all very much. Your mum is a strong person and being italian we are very strong. She will be in my prays.

[Heather Family (Ruth Lee)]

Dear Mama

We Have Faith In You All Too <3.

Love

New Zealand <3 :o)

[Produk kecantikan]

You see, there are deals, but not "ofertones". Known phenomenon for the second time, vote-buying that at all who must demonize, make it clear-spending and stay him these cars, we put them and ask them pretty reasonably priced with finance option so that he would be benefit and we go home with our vehicle, secure and happy.

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Thanks for including us on such a great list.

[Melisa robles]

I'm sorry to hear about mom everytime I hear the word Als reminds me of my mother Elsa who is up above watching over you your family along with god my mother passes a year ago from Als but through the hold time of her illness started with her hands her body lost strength but the strength I had for her was enormous that feeding her bathing her was saying its my turn for her watching me from the day I was born prayers to the cake boss family love ya all

[Patricia Taylor]

My heart goes out to Mary and all the Valastro family. This horrible disease not only affects the one with it, it affects the entire family. My sister passed away at 43 with ALS and just two short days ago my mother passed away suffering with the same disease at the age of 74. My advice is to love your mother with everything in you and pray for strength and guidance.

[Patricia Taylor]

My heart goes out to Mary and all the Valastro family. This horrible disease not only affects the one with it, it affects the entire family. My sister passed away at 43 with ALS and just two short days ago my mother passed away suffering with the same disease at the age of 74. My advice is to love your mother with everything in you and pray for strength and guidance.

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You see, there are deals, but not "ofertones". Known phenomenon for the second time, vote-buying that at all who must demonize, make it clear-spending and stay him these cars, we put them and ask them pretty reasonably priced with finance option so that he would be benefit and we go home with our vehicle, secure and happy.

[Samantha]

For all of you and especially for Buddy's family, "Patients Like Me" is an incredible online support and source of information. You can just google it.

[Josie Graziano]

Dear Mrs. Valastro,
Please Look into Lyme disease and find yourself a lyme doctor because this disease is very rampid around your area. Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed. There are a lot of misdiagnosed cases of ALS when it is actually lyme disease. The site that will help you is www.ilads.org, this site will give you lots of information about the disease. When treated properly, most cases can be reversed if it's not too late. I pray that you get this message. And have your family look into it.
Sincerely,
Josie Graziano

[J C Williams]

Hello Buddy, and family. I had not been watching your show until the night your mom was diagnosed with ALS. It was so moving. I could see and feel the love you have for your mom. Although it will be a hard road ahead for you and the family, please know that your fans as well as myself will trully keep you and your family in prayer, as all things are possible with it. Take care of yourself as well as the rest of your family as it will be like things will not get better, you have to trust that they will. On Mama's part, it is always hard to think that a child has to take care of them when it should be the other way around, as I went threw this with my mom. I finally convienced her that this is what I wanted to do, and she really needed to let me help her, she gave in and all went well. With the love you have for your mom, she'll find confort in you wanting to care for her soon, just be patient. Loved your show with the family in Italy. There's nothing better than the love of family. May God keep you all in his ever loving Grace for all of your tomorrows and beyound. Regards, lots of Love JC

[janice]

& ended up taking care of him regardless of who he hired. We learner so much about each other. He taught me that no matter what obstacles that comes our way thank God for every single day. I tried to help him remember all the memories that touched his heart with such happiness & to focus on them when times were so difficult. We made wonderful & also sad memories together. You see Mary I am a four time cancer fighter. First cervical, then left breast, onto right kidney & now the big one inoperable stage 4 throat cancer that has invaded two lymph nodes. I pray every day for another day. There are times I wish God would take me home, but he must have some other plans for me right now. All I know is to live in moment. When times seems unbearable I search into the mind & focus on the memories that warm my heart & help lesson my fears. My thoughts & prayers will remain will you on this journey. I wish I could meet you & comfort you with loving thoughts that would warm your heart & give you much happiness. I do watch cake boss every opportunity I get & I must say, you have a wonderful family & in raising your children you have passed on amazing morals & compassion that keeps the family so perfectly united. Stay strong & never give up you faith. Buddy & family members: stay very strong & support each other every day. You all are truly blessed with such a beautiful Mother & stay by her with every passing day. Times may be so hard for each & everyone of you, but always remember to stay strong for Mama. My prayers will be said every day for each one of you to keep Mama happy & content. My love & prayers will be with each of you to have the compassio &strength

[janice]

Dearest mary, buddy & family: after finding out Mary that you have Als I was truly heart broken that you have to fight such a very difficult illness. I had a neighbor that had Als. I hardly knew him for he just moved next door. One day he arrived on my patio & told me of the als & that he had no one to help him at all. At that moment I promised him that I would be there for him day & night. We were together every day & evening. I helped him hire nurses

[Pamela wright]

Hey buddy my mom and I are fans of your programs on tv by the way you make gorgeous beautiful cakes we watched the episode of the one where your mom was diagnosed with Al's just wondering how she is doing now and may god bless you your mom and your family I will keep praying for you and your family god bless you buddy

[Mena Gilkes]

I came across this post online and am a firm believer in Knowledge is power so I am sending this information in the hopes that it may help you give you strenghth and courage and some practicle suggestions. All my best as you struggle with this test. "My husband had been recently diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. His symptoms were that he had lost most of his strength in his legs, arms and hands. He was having hard time walking and he was tripping and falling. He would come home at night after struggling working all day and would be freezing cold in our warm California house. I can't begin to tell you how heartbreaking it is to watch your 52 year old extremely athletic and healthy husband have this happen to him. (These symptoms came on over a period of about 6 weeks!)

ALS is disease that has very fatal consequences and at this moment there is no cure. My husband and I thought well with no cure, we have nothing to lose in trying different things to stop the progression of this insidious disease.

He immediately starting drinking about 2 ounces of wheatgrass juice a day and eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables (organic when available). He then went down to the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego for their detoxying program for a week that included at a minimum of drinking 4 or more ounces of Wheatgrass juice, other raw vegetable juices and lots of raw fruits and vegetables. He called me by the third day and told me that the use of hiis arms, hands and right leg had come back. I was thrilled to hear that kind of information in such a short time. When he returned he felt tremendous. His energy and spirit had returned."
I hope this helps!

[Karen R]

I'm so sorry for the suffering your mama is going thru, but I took care of my dad after his heart transplant for 7 months before he went home to the Lord. I watch your show always...no matter how many times I've seen the episodes.

I totally understand your pain and feelings of helplessness.

You and your family are in my daily prayers.

.....family is what it is all about!

KKR

[Mary Cutrer]

Dear Buddy, Momma,& family,
I am very sorry to hear that Momma a very special women has the horrible disease. My prayers and the prayers of my family are with you in this time of need. May you feel strong and have the continuing love of all of your family. I also pray for less pain and more ease in your life
Mrs. Mary.

All my love and prayers,
Mary Cutrer
Picayune, Mississippi

[Linda Braman]

I watch Cake Boss all of the time. I am also of Italian heritage. The thing I admire most about your family is your devotion to your Mama and your family. I am a devout Christian and will pray for your Mama every day. I know my Lord will give her and your family the strength and peace you need to conquer this disease.

[rhonda woodruff]

mama, i will pray for you everyday. and you are on our prayer list where i attend church. you have a wonderfull family, that is because of you and your late husband. I wanted to shed some light to you about having someone with you to help you with the daily things. I was a caregiver and i found that the people i helped taught me so much, with the wisdom they aquired through out their lives. if you were to have a caregiver then God would choose the person who needs your wisdom. God would also choose someone wonderful to put in your life. Love and prayers to you,

[Ruth Collins]

God bless the Valastros family and I pray that you Dear God please heal Mary
make her strong again you have the power my Father.I asked this in Jesus name.

[theresa]

Dear Valastro Family I just want to know how Mama is doing please get back to me to let me know I would appreciate it very much I watch the show all the time and I Love it thanks