Restoring Mary's Savings

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your generous donation!!  

A final update to Mary's story...…..
 
It is with a very heavy heart that I share the news that on Saturday afternoon, Sept 22, 2018 Mary (Jelinek) Dalpiaz lost her battle with ALS.  This horrible disease presents itself differently case by case, but sadly at this point in time it always wins, usually within 2-5 years from onset.  Mary was formally diagnosed just over a year ago, although she had experienced some early symptoms for maybe a year or more before that.  After her diagnosis Mary (a career RN herself) made known to her family her wishes for as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.  At that moment her incredible family (husband, kids/inlaws, grandchildren, parents and siblings) all jumped into support and caregiver roles to help Mary live as full and independent a life as possible - surrounded by love and laughs. 

This website was launched to not only share this family's journey, but also to raise money to help the family as detailed below.  Thank you so much if you already received this message and were able to reach out to Mary and her family with kind words, prayers and donations these past few months.  If this is the first time you have seen this website and you are in position to do so, your donation in any amount still very much needed and appreciated. 

On behalf of the Dalpiaz and extended family thank you and God bless!  


I am raising money for Mary (Jelinek) Dalpiaz who was diagnosed with ALS last year, and for her husband Carl.  Specifically, I am hoping to replenish, as much as possible, some of the retirement funds Mary and Carl had to withdraw in order to pay for her medical expenses the past 24 months, and to meet increasingly large and ongoing monthly expenses.  Even with the good insurance they have, the gap between covered and actual expenses is simply overwhelming. They have literally had to drain most of their retirement savings ($130K+ to date) to make payments against the non-covered portions of her care and to purchase equipment.   Throughout all this Mary has accepted the inevitability of her illness with courage, grace and dignity on a level I cannot fully grasp – humbling me to my core.  She is understandably very sad knowing she will not be here to participate in, or even witness future life events with her family.  But she is most worried about the financial stress they are facing now, and devastated that Carl will enter his retirement years without the savings they both worked so hard for all their lives.     


A little about Mary:

 - Mary is the daughter of Gloria & Richard Jelinek, longtime owners of the Union Oil plant in Flagstaff.
 - Mary grew up in Flagstaff graduating from FHS in 1977.
 - Mary is the sister of my wife Laura and sisters Susan, Judy, Diane and brother Mike.
 - Mary is a UA Wildcat and lifelong RN in Tucson.
 - Mary is the wife of my best friend Carl.
 - Mary is mom to two daughters (Lindi & Emily) and two sons (Paul & Michael)
 - Mary is Grandmother (Nonna) to three grandsons and two granddaughters.
 - Mary is an awesome Aunt for countless nephews and nieces.
 - Mary has an infectious giggle and is the life of the party around campfire after her amaretto sours.   
 - Mary is a beautiful lady inside and out.
 - Mary has ALS, but Mary is NOT ALS.  (To learn more about ALS)

For now Mary is unaware of this GoFundMe effort we are launching. But she did tell me directly of her worries mentioned above and that she hates the prospect of leaving Carl with financial ruin. She regrets they will not enjoy their retirement together, or ever be in position to pass on some of their hard-earned savings to their children, just like all of us hope to one day.  A proud and independent family, I had to press hard on Carl to consider this GoFundMe avenue for help.  The need is urgent.  And so my request is for you to donate if you can and what you can, but more importantly spread the word via your social networks as we all know there is power in numbers.  God Bless and thank you!


Jelinek Sisters:  Back row, L-R:  Laura & Susan.  Front row, L-R: Diane, Mary & Judy.