May marks ALS Awareness Month, and one Clinton Hill family shared with News 12 their journey from diagnosis to determination for change.

In February 2015, Patricia Hipplewith was diagnosed with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Now using her iPad to communicate, Hipplewith's family has become her voice to spread awareness, from throwing spontaneous dance parties in the living room to taking part in New York City's Walk to Defeat ALS this year.

Until there's a cure, the family says it's their goal to be supportive and make Hipplewith and "other ALS patients as happy and comfortable as they can."

A new ALS medication is becoming available for the first time in 22 years. It's been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and will be released in August 2017.