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It seems to me that in the flurry and fuss of the fanfare for michael J fox, that we are forgetting the every day regular ordinary people, who dont have boundless wealth to protect and shelter them from this horrific disease . Not that I mean to belittle Mr. Fox - he feels the same discomfort as you and I do. But he does it in much more luxurious conditions. I cant help but compare him with Ivan, who struggles from day to day with continual problems finding and keeping caregivers. And the problem boils down to money.In order to attract, and keep the right sort of person, you have to pay the right sort of salary.Nobody can afford to support a family on $6.25 an hour. The only way Ivan, and others in that situation, are going to make it is if somehow their caregivers are sponsored.Any ideas of how to get such sponsorship and who from. Ivan M Suzman wrote: > > Dear friends, > > Some of you may have noticed that I have been very positive lately. I > think it's better not to burden you with difficulties beyond my > abilities. However, i'm afraid a few distressing things have to be said > at this point. > > Hilary Blue's dyskinetic finger must have accidentally misled the List, > by sending outdated mail from Gerry Haines, from a better moment in my > ongoing caregiver (CG) shortage.. > > In fact, I am wearing down from exhaustion. The caregiver search is > endless and temporary at Maine's $6.25/hour. Kids flipping burgers at > McDonald's get health insurance and $6.25; data entry base pay at the > University is $8.50/hr; industrial base pay is $14.00/hr. So I am > totally lost in the shuffle. > > I have had three resignations in 2 days due to low pay. I now face three > nights a week alone. This is a recipe for disaster. I cannot find steady > help, and my CG who lived in my home is gone. > > Jay Forys, my most dedicated CG, who helped me through the PAN forum last > June, has moved to New Jersey. He could not afford the $6.25/hour > part-time wages, even with a room without rent in my home, and the use of > my vehicle (an '88 Chevy Blazer).. Also, Jay is a single parent, and > arranges child-caring with his ex-spouse. As a parent, he could not > afford to stay with me any longer. He was trapped by PD and by low > wages. Especially in Maine, where wages are so extremely low that it > feels at time like a third-world country. > > Jay is only 39. He is trying to arrange to raise his son, Nicky, who is > now 10. Jay needs to build up a suitable environment for Nicky, who is > already skipping school and having a very rough time in New Hampshire.. > In New Jersey, Jay's warehouse job, 50 to 60 hours per week, and with > overtime, gives him far more money to work with, to establish an > apartment. He is near four married sisters, a married brother, and about > 18 nephews and nieces. This is a huge and supportive family system.. > > His daughter Jenny, who is brilliant, is graduating in June, a year > early, from high school. Jenny will head off to college. She and her > brother are in New Hampshire with their mom, unless Nicky is moved to New > Jersey. > > So, thanks to Jay, who sacrificed for nine months, I got his unending > help, and therefore did what I could for us all. Now, everything is > worsening rapidly, and realistically, without a salary and benefits to > offer Jay, he had no choice but to leave Maine. > > I miss his care and wonderful sense of humor. At least, it was a > beautiful time while it lasted. > > IVAN > > ^^^^^^ WARM GREETINGS FROM ^^^^^^^^^^^^ :-) > Ivan Suzman 48/39/36 [log in to unmask] :-) > Portland, Maine land of lighthouses deg. F :-) > ******************************************************************** > > On Wed, 25 Nov 1998 20:58:39 +0000 Hilary Blue <[log in to unmask]> writes: > >Gerry & Brig Haines wrote: > >> > >> Just this minute got off the phone with Ivan, and he was on top of > >the world. > >> All kinds of offers have been coming in since this afternoon. He > >feels good, > >> so good,(that might be part of a song) and cannot believe all the > >calls. I > >> can't remember all the people, but one old friend he ran into on the > >street, a > >> student who lives in the western part of the state but studies in > >Portland, a > >> cg he had before, and more. Even the rep. he knows from his > >district called. > >> We thanked God, and both of us realized how humbling this disease > >is... (SNIPPED) ...t. > >> His phone number is 207-797-8488. I think all the days and nights > >are fairly > >> well filled. He can correct me if I'm wrong. > >> Thank you everyone for all your help..... > >> Gerry(Brig59/12) > >