My name is Jan Bergstrom and I was a part of the Brugh Joy community back in the day.  Some of you may remember me; as I am a good friend of Cynthia Riddle’s. We met at Actualizations around 1983 and have remained friends since. As you know she was diagnosed with Inclusive Body Myositis about five years ago, and as the years have gone by this disease has become continually more disabling. Currently, there is no real treatment to stop the progression of this disease.

For more information about Inclusive Body Myositis please visit this website. www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/inclusion_body_myositis/inclusion_body_myositis.htm  

I visited Cynthia last fall, to help her with organizing and cleaning her home.  I spent almost two days there, cleaning, doing laundry, throwing things away and compiling bags for donation.   The next day I fixed her closet and took her shopping to get garage shelving for storage. All the while I was sadly shocked to see how truly compromised she has become due to this disease. 

Cynthia, being the fighter she is, never really complains or says much about how hard things are.   Now, not being able to walk up stairs, the challenges facing her are growing.  With her two daughters Emily and Julia, ages 10 and 6 at home and her husband only recently back at work, balancing finances, family time and health is a tall order to fill by herself. She is currently receiving disability help and benefits however, the help was unreliable.    

I reached out to all of you to help donate money for her cause.  We were able to raise enough money to bring in a home helper starting in November of 2012 until this June 2013.  Her name is Kathy Choma and she has been coming 3 days a week for a 1 ½ hours to help Cynthia with household chores.  

I know that times are difficult and if any of you could still donate money, please send to my address below with checks made out to me. 

Another idea that I have come up with to help her is this website site called: www.lotsahelpinghands.com

This website if you decide to join, will have a list and calendar that if you can donate your time to help with the various tasks around the house would be so appreciated.  

Any and all support will be put to excellent use!

Thank you again for your generous support!

Warmest Regards,

Jan Bergstrom

23 Randolph Street

Arlington, MA  02474

781-777-1172