GoFundMe organised for Thornbury man Paul Groppi after ALS diagnosis

A hardworking carpenter diagnosed with progressive neurological disorder is in the fight of his life to live out his last days in his home.

Paul Groppi was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease. Picture: Supplied.

A hardworking tradesman diagnosed with ALS is fighting against all odds to live out his last days in his home after the deadly disease left him bedridden and his house “gutted”.

Thornbury man Paul Groppi, who has worked as a concreter and carpenter for 38 years, purchased his family’s dream home in hopes of renovating it himself.

But soon, renovations came to a halt as the 55-year-old tradesman struggled to walk after his Motor Neurone Disease rapidly worsened, leaving him bed-bound and unable to eat orally.

Mr Groppi with his youngest children. Photo: supplied.

The onset started as twitching in his right arm, which Mr Groppi shrugged off as a pinched nerve but eventually revealed to be incurable ALS.

Wife Julie Dixon told the Herald Sun she didn’t know how quickly the deadly disease would “take hold” of Mr Groppi.

Paul is no longer able to move any limbs, bed bound, unable to speak or hold his head, unable to eat or breath without assistance. Photo: supplied.

“Paul was still okay to work when we brought the house and started to renovate, but soon he was in a wheelchair and could no longer use his hands,” she said.

“Even before buying, we’d already organised a lot of materials to be delivered, but unfortunately, with Covid and everything else with the lockdowns, prices of trade and material went so out of control. We did not budget for everything to go up so dramatically.”

Mr Groppi’s home has been on a standstill for over a year. Photo: supplied.

Ms Dixon, who shares two children — aged nine and five — with Mr Groppi, started an online fundraiser through GoFundMe to help pay for trade costs so he could “see and live out his days in his last home”.

“We feel completely vulnerable in asking for this help, but I want my husband to see that everything will be okay before his time comes. We are trying to find the rest of the trades to complete the build,” she said.

Paul is no longer able to move any limbs, bed bound, unable to speak or hold his head, unable to eat or breath without assistance.

“Paul is the most genuine, heart-loving person anybody can ever meet. He could walk up to a stranger and make friends,”

“Today, he is no longer able to move any limbs, bed bound, unable to speak or hold his head, unable to eat or breathe without assistance.”

Mr Groppi just months before his ALS diagnosis. Picture: Supplied.

The GoFundMe raised $17,885 of the $50,000 target, which helped towards the house, but there’s still a lot to be done.

“Before MND, Paul could do anything when it came to building. Such a talented man and such a cruel disease that has taken everything except his mind and his will to live,” Ms Dixon said.

“Please help him see and live out his days in his last home.”