A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Brian Eviston drew support from sports community during battle with ALS before passing away


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

Brian Eviston, an outstanding student-athlete at Newport Central Catholic High School and Thomas More College, passed away Thursday after battling a degenerative disease for nearly five years.

Eviston, a resident of Cold Spring, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in November of 2016. At that time, he was working for Strauss Troy attorneys at law.

Brian Eviston

In high school, Eviston was captain of the NewCath varsity football and basketball teams and graduated in 1996 as the class salutatorian. He continued his football career at Thomas More College, where he was captain of the football team and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2000. He went on to get his law degree from the University of Kentucky in 2003.

Eviston was NewCath’s starting quarterback in his junior and senior seasons. One of his teammates was his younger brother, Eddie, who is now head football coach at Covington Catholic High School.

After Brian was diagnosed with ALS in 2016, his family and friends started Team “B”elieve, a fund-raising effort to offset his medical expenses while he battled the disease that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The money they raised was used to help other young families dealing with ALS as well.

For the past five years, CovCath donated proceeds from its final preseason football game to Team “B”elieve. Brian always attended those games and provided an inspiring message of hope, faith and love to those in attendance.

CovCath football coach Eddie Eviston, left, used his team’s final preseason scrimmage game as a fundraiser for the battle his brother Brian, right, waged against ALS.

Brian took part in a research study at Massachusetts General Hospital to help find a cure or slow the progression of ALS. Through it all, he expressed endless gratitude for each day he was blessed with during his medical ordeal.

Before the disease, Brian was an active volunteer in the community. He coached youth basketball teams, served as an unpaid legal consultant and worked with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to create a Healthy Newborns Home. He was also a member of Diocese of Covington’s Alliance for Catholic Urban Education.

He is survived by his wife, Rhonda; children Riley, Donovan, Evelyn and Maura; mother, Denise; brother, Eddie (Selina); sisters Jennifer Jacob and Malia (Adam) Jackson and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald, and brother, Sean.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Covington Catholic High School. Mass of Christian Burial will be noon Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cold Spring with interment to follow at St Joseph Cemetery in Cold Spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Team “B”elieve, 971 Corona Drive, Cold Spring, KY 41076 or Alliance for Catholic Urban Education, 1125 Madison Ave., Covington, KY 41011. Online condolences can be given at dmefuneral.com.

 


Related Posts

6 Comments

  1. thato amelia says:

    My first symptoms of ALS occurred in 2014, but was diagnosed in 2016. I had severe symptoms ranging from shortness of breath, balance problems, couldn’t walk without a walker or a power chair, i had difficulty swallowing and fatigue. I was given medications which helped but only for a short burst of time, then I decided to try alternative measures and began on ALS Formula treatment from Tree of Life Health clinic. It has made a tremendous difference for me. I had improved walking balance, increased appetite, muscle strength, improved eyesight and others. ]

  2. Marcia Stewart says:

    With my amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the first thing that happened almost 2 years ago now, was speaking as if I were drunk. I wasn’t. I initially did improve speech (articulating clearly but slow) but now I can no longer speak in an acceptable way. Then, a year later eating became problematic, I was biting my tongue and lips, and chewing became weak and less controlled. Soon after that some fingers started to fail me and things would drop out of my hands. Somewhere at that time bulbar ALS was diagnosed. The Rilutek (riluzole) did very little to help me. The medical team did even less. My decline was rapid and devastating.. We tried every shot available but nothing was working. There has been little if any progress in finding a reliable treatment, Our care provider introduced us to Kycuyu Health Clinic ALS/MND herbal treatment. The treatment is a miracle.i recovered significantly!

  3. Thato amelia says:

    My first symptoms of ALS occurred in 2014, but was diagnosed in 2016. I had severe symptoms ranging from shortness of breath, balance problems, couldn’t walk without a walker or a power chair, i had difficulty swallowing and fatigue. I was given medications which helped but only for a short burst of time, then I decided to try alternative measures and began on ALS Formula treatment from Tree of Life Health clinic. It has made a tremendous difference for me. I had improved walking balance, increased appetite, muscle strength, improved eyesight and others. ]

  4. Laurah Quayle says:

    Hope this is allowed here if not I understand. My husband was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) when he was 63 years old 4 years ago. The Rilutek (riluzole) did very little to help him. The medical team did even less. His decline was rapid and devastating. His arms weakened first, then his hands and legs. He resorted to a wheelchair (Perbombil C300). A year ago, I began to do a lot of research and came across Health Herbs Clinic, I decided to start him on the ALS herbal protocol as I had nothing else to turn to; 2 months into treatment he improved dramatically. At the end of the full treatment course, the disease is totally under control. No case of dementia, hallucination, weakness, muscle pain and he is even learning to Walk again.

  5. Thato amelia says:

    My first symptoms of ALS occurred in 2014, but was diagnosed in 2016. I had severe symptoms ranging from shortness of breath, balance problems, couldn’t walk without a walker or a power chair, i had difficulty swallowing and fatigue. I was given medications which helped but only for a short burst of time, then I decided to try alternative measures and began on ALS Formula treatment from Tree of Life Health clinic. It has made a tremendous difference for me (Visit w w w. treeoflifeherbalclinic .com ). I had improved walking balance, increased appetite, muscle strength, improved eyesight and others. ]

  6. Amy Larder says:

    I stopped most of my ALS medications due to severe side effects and I started on herbal treatments from Natural Herbs Centre, the treatment has made a very huge difference for me. My symptoms including body weakness and Swallowing difficulties disappeared after few months on the treatment. I am getting active again since starting this treatment. I no longer use a feeding tube

Leave a Comment