Meet Buzz Haws.

Farmer, family man, loving grandpa, ALS warrior.

Grandpa “Buzz” Haws grew up in Eagar, Arizona, a small town located about 200 miles northeast of Phoenix. He grew up working on the farm, playing sports, and spending time with his four brothers and sisters. At age 21, he married Annamarie Turley, and they raised eight children during their 52 years of  marriage.

Grandpa’s fight with ALS was relatively short compared to many others. He started having trouble breathing and fatigued very quickly in January/February of 1999. The next five months were filled with doctor visits, x-rays and tests on his lungs, but no answers were found. In September of 1999, specialists began conducting tests on his muscles… Two months later a diagnosis was reached. 

On November 17, 1999, Grandpa and Grandpa Haws celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary with a visit to the doctor. As they talked, the doctor told them, “Buzz has Lou Gehrig’s disease, and it is fatal.” Like most ALS patients, grandpa was told he would probably live 2-5 years. The disease progressed so quickly, however, that Grandma and Grandpa Haws never celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. 

Grandpa’s health deteriorated quickly after his diagnosis. He soon lost the strength in his legs and needed a wheelchair to get around. A couple of months later, he needed an oxygen mask to help him breathe. Bathing became difficult. Getting dressed became difficult. Eating became difficult. All of the muscles in grandpa’s body were shutting down, and simple tasks became increasingly more difficult. Grandpa was tough, and he fought ALS with everything he had, but his toughness was no match for the disease that had invaded his body. He passed away in July of 2000, just nine and a half months after diagnosis. He was only 74 years old. 

Grandpa Haws’ legacy continues today. He is the inspiration behind Tossin’ Away ALS and the reason we want to help families currently facing the challenge that is Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed, it affects a whole family. We’ve walked down this road before, and we want people struggling with this disease to know they are not alone in their fight against ALS.