LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The godson of late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is facing a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease.
Joey Porrello, 29, was diagnosed with the disease one year ago. Tricia Kean recently sat down with Joey and his wife to talk about his diagnosis.
"My life is perfect in every way," Porrello said. "I feel tremendously fortunate."
While Porrello faces the battle of his life with ALS, his positive attitude and love of life are infectious.
So far for Porrello, the hardest part has been the symptoms from this neurological disease.
"Losing my voice, my ability to interact with other people and to be able express my personality," Porrello said.
But his expression of love for his wife of nearly five years, Alli, is very evident just by the way he looks at her.
Alli is right by his side through it all, along with their two young children: 3-year-old Ottilie and 10-month-old Wally.
Alli says the couple first noticed a change in Joey after his wrist went limp. And then chasing after Ottilie became difficult.
"He fell even, one time, and I think that is when I was like, this is really serious — because it's not just your hand, it's your whole body that's not communicating," Alli said.
The Porrellos are incredibly grateful to Joey's godfather, Jimmy Kimmel, for helping them find the doctors who diagnosed Joey, and Project ALS.
Joey's dad, Tommy, and Jimmy first met at Kenny Guinn Middle School growing up in Las Vegas.
"Tommy and I were joined at the hip," Kimmel said.
The two also attended Clark High School together.
"One of our great accomplishments was we ate a six-foot sub in one day. Three feet, the two of us, each. We have been really good friends since we were kids," Kimmel said.
And the connection he has with his godson Joey is special.
"Joey is the kid you want to have. I mean, he's smart. He's nice. He's funny. He's an athlete. He's a soccer player," Kimmel said. "You can't imagine that something like this would happen to anybody, but someone who is so alive — and we need to do something about it."
A fundraiser is being held Friday, May 26 at Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club on the Strip: a one-night, intimate fundraiser called "It's No Joke" in support of Project ALS. Click here for ticket information. Jimmy will be hosting the event, joined by comedians Sarah Silverman, Jeff Ross and Nick Kroll, with an appearance by famed YouTuber Mark Rober.
