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Hi Everyone,
We have established a new fund through the College of Marin Foundation which makes donations for Carla tax-deductible. You can now donate through this fund which will collect the donations, thank you and then forward a check and a list of donors to Carla. Thanks so much to Sandy Handsher, Laurie Ordin and Margaret Elliott for their assistance in creating this fund.
COM Foundation accepts check and credit cards by mail or telephone. Employees
of College of Marin can fill out a form with the business Office and have contributions directed monthly.
Checks can be made out to COMF-Carla Fund and sent to
College of Marin Foundation
Carla Zilbersmith Fund
P.O. Box 446
Kentfield, CA 94914
To call for more information, 415-485-9382, Margaret Elliott.
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Dear Friends,
Carla is entering a different stage of ALS where she is in a wheelchair full-time. She is aware that she will need to hire an aide soon and is extremely concerned about the expense. Unfortunately, a home health aide is not covered by insurance and is extremely expensive, possibly around $11,000 a month. Though she has a retirement salary from College of Marin, much of that will need to go toward the basics. We would like to offer to her a promise of monthly funds to assist with her expenses. Some of you have already committed a monthly amount. If you are able to do so in any amount, please let me know what amount you feel you could contribute monthly toward her health aide.
Thank you so much,
Edith Morrow
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Notes from our first Driving Miss Craisy meeting:
Hello Everyone,
We started off our first meeting last night in good spirits, thanks to Carla and Mac. Edith arrived with words of thanks and encouragement from Carla, and a bagful of t-shirts designed by Mac. He transformed the Driving Miss Daisy poster to show each of us DMCers in the place of Morgan Freeman, with our dear Carla's face in the rearview mirror -- underneath was "Driving Miss Craisy". We donned our tees and happily obliged Carla's request for a group photo.
We spent the rest of the evening discussing ways to best help Carla. We decided that having a contact person for the various issues that may arise was the best plan of action. The list and further explanation is below, but first I'd like to share some items that Carla asked Lisa to share with everyone.
1) Carla encourages everyone to "be yourself" around her. You can laugh - you can cry - there is no right way. Just be real. If she asks you how your child likes her new bike, don't think she really couldn't be interested -- she is.
2) Documenting times together is important to Carla (for Mac's future benefit). So if you go for a lovely walk with her, remember your camera.
3) Carla loves that we are sending her positive energy/good thoughts/prayers every day at 12:00 (and whenever). Please keep it up.
4) People with ALS have compromised lungs (you may have noticed her increased coughing), so it is especially important not to expose her to colds, etc. She intends to keep sanitizing lotion on her kitchen counter for visitors.
Legal issues - Kris and her husband, Chas, are both attorneys and have already begun to work with Mike regarding insurance. Kris's goal is to locate a health advocate that Carla likes (in addition to an attorney) so Carla can, as she said, "get her ducks in a row".
Financial - Edith has recommended that 3 funds ultimately be established -- one for Mac, one for medical supplies/expenses, and one as-you-wish fund. We have heard Carla discuss making choices involving her desire to save money (switching to her accupuncturist's assistant instead of using her accupuncturist for instance) and therefore feel setting up an as-you-wish fund first would go far in helping Carla. Carla would prefer for the funds to be set up after 2nd opinion.
Communications - Our creative Wendy (of QuiltMamas fame) will set up and maintain a web page. I (Kathy) will continue to try to keep people informed through email.
Orthotics - Kaila will help Carla locate orthotic devices. Currently Wendy is helping with Carla's most pressing needs (clothing adjustments) and Edith will help with shoe shopping. Barry (Wendy's husband) has a honey-do list he will tackle today while Wendy is sewing.
Transportation Research - Lynda will investigate paratransit services and the process for acquiring a Handicap Parking Permit.
Driving Schedule - Kaila will organize driving schedules (which may include using Google calendar in the future).
Shopping Schedule - Alison will organize shopping schedules in the future (which may simply entail a system such as Kris/Monday, Allen/Tuesday, etc.).
Research - Christina will assist Carla in gathering information Carla may be interested in. We have many contacts that would be happy to assist as well (Kaila's dad, Abe, a scientist, and Alison's brother, and neuroscientist).