Woodmere Woman Struck by Sandy, Then Fatal Diagnosis

A Woodmere woman battling her insurance company after her home was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy was recently hit with even more devastating news — a fatal diagnosis of ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Devorah Schochet, 39, received the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in February, months after Sandy flooded her basement and crumbled her home’s foundation, leaving a massive sinkhole. The neurodegenerative disease causes the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to die, leading to a loss of mobility and speech and eventually death.

She is already experiencing some symptoms, having trouble wearing heels, losing strength in her hands and trouble speaking. A doctor told Schochet, whose mother died of ALS, that she had only two to four years to live.

The mother of four went public with her situation on the fundraising site Root Funding, raising about $92,000 so far, and is seeking help to renovate her family's home and make it handicapped accessible. They need about $150,000.

“Now I have half a house, four amazing kids and no way to make my house livable while this disease consumes me,” Schochet wrote on Root Funding. “It is possible to live a long time with ALS and I hope to do that. It would be a necessity and a dream to have our house rebuilt to be handicapped accessible, with a master bedroom and bathroom on the main level and fix up the house so an aid can move in as well as my family live.”

The Schochets’ insurance company, Allstate, denied the claim for foundation work because of the sinkhole, which wasn't covered under the policy, according to a statement from the company.

"The Schochet family’s flood insurance policy is through the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). NFIP policy does not insure for loss to property caused directly by earth movement even if the earth movement is caused by flood," the statement reads. "We empathize with the Schochet family’s situation and will continue working to ensure that their claim is handled properly."

But Schochet said that the sinkhole was caused by running water as a result of the storm.

“The company isn't playing fair," she told ABC News.

Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony Santino, along with State Assemblyman Brian Curran (R-Lynbrook) and Nassau Legislator Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence), have been working with the Schochets’ for two months trying to get Allstate to reopen the case and reconsider its decision.

The officials have also involved the Department of Financial Service and the New York State Attorney General, and recently introduced the Shochets to Long Island-based Cameron Engineering, which has agreed to work pro bono on the family's behalf. A principal at the firm has concluded Allstate should pay for the damages.