Brooke Eby and I first started chatting in August of 2022. It was three years after I lost my dad to ALS, and I was just getting my little jewelry business off the ground.
How I Met Brooke Eby
She found my shop, placed her first order, and sent me a message. She told me she'd been diagnosed that March, thanked me for my support, and wished my family well. I told her I'd be happy to be a sounding board however I could, and that I'd be following along and cheering for her the whole way.
She was so fun to talk to, and I was always grateful for her support. When her order arrived, she messaged to let me know I'd accidentally sent two pairs of earrings. It wasn't an accident. Sometimes I make one-of-a-kind pairs that never get listed, and when I saw those, I thought of her.
Two Dogs Named Draymond
Then I noticed something else. Her pup's name was Dray, short for Draymond. I had a dog named Dray too, named after Draymond Green, the basketball player. Of all the things for two strangers to have in common, we'd both named our dogs after the same NBA player.
Watching Brooke Fight ALS with Dark Humor
Brooke started to get really big on social media, and we didn't chat as often after that, just always 'hearting' stories of each others. I watched every single one of her posts. I admired how she faced every challenge with dark humor, and how she refused to let ALS have the last word, even when it was taking so much from her.
The Story Behind the F*ck ALS Necklace
In the summer of 2025, I launched my ALS necklace collection. Each piece represents someone living with ALS, named after them and featuring a charm of their choosing, with a portion of every sale donated to the ALS organization of their choice. Brooke was one of the first people I reached out to.
Her answer: "Yes!"
Shortly after she said yes, Brooke had her feeding tube surgery, and communicating over DMs became much harder. So we worked together over email with the help of her agent, Elle.
I had originally thought she'd want something classic, like a pearl. But in true Brooke fashion, she wanted a middle finger.
So the F*ck ALS necklace launched in late 2025, and it has remained the most popular item I have ever sold.
Not Sad, But Angry: Why We Keep Fighting ALS
I woke up today, on the exact day my dad died from ALS seven years ago, to hear that Brooke had passed the day before.
I'm heartbroken. But more than anything, I'm angry.
And I think that's how Brooke would want us to feel. Not sad, but angry. She fought so f*cking hard to raise money and awareness, probably with the hope that, maybe, she might live to see a treatment.
So Brooke, today I'm angry (OK, and pretty sad too). But I promise: we are going to keep fighting, raising awareness, and donating money to research in your name, and in the name of everyone else we've lost.
In our hearts forever, Brooke Eby.
