Leslie's Journey from Malnutrition

Finding her legs and getting life back on track, woman of dancing heart seeks financial support following medical condition crisis…


In the ever-winding trails of the 21st century, I, Liam Woodworth-Cook, find myself composing this letter on behalf of my mom, Leslie Woodworth. I realize that the times we live in require asking for help and for building the blocks of mutual aid. Please read, contribute what you can, and share this post with your other communities and friends, adding your endorsement, so that we can accomplish our goal!

My mother’s current financial crisis came after her recent visit up north. Thank you so much to those who supported us. We are both grateful for the visit. It was extremely rewarding to share some space and time with her. Seems she landed up here in Portland Maine and then disappeared off the planet… so what happened?

Leslie has been managing a medical condition for almost 20 years - a constriction in her esophageal sphincter preventing food from moving properly into her stomach. Food goes in, motility and constriction moves it back up and out. The condition has meant that she has been quite thin for a long time.

A week into our visit in February, my mom fell quite ill… many visits with friends were cancelled because she needed to stay in bed… Mom returned to Austin, however the illness (which started as an ear infection) lingered. With weakness and chronic aching all over her body, she couldn’t work for some time and was on bed rest while awaiting a gastro appointment. Severely dehydrated and bloods gone haywire, Leslie was finally admitted to the hospital - diagnosis: malnutrition! She had no idea her esophagus was completely shut and no idea how long that had been true for.

She had a week long stay in the hospital, being pumped with fluids, bringing her bloods closer to normal before a procedure was performed that allowed her to eat/drink liquids and mushy foods. My mom was discharged with several more dilation procedures scheduled to come down the road... Eventually, Leslie will be able to eat and digest food, as well as gain some weight and strength back.

Unfortunately, as an independent business owner, my mom lost two months of income as a result of her illness and hospitalization. Although hospital bills alone will be exorbitant - even with her insurance - my mom’s immediate concern is for rents (house and office) and other personal bills that have been compromised by her loss of income. She needs help! This is where y’all come in!

Please do what you can and know that my mom and I are humbled in gratitude… Thank you from the bottom to brim of our hearts.

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Some back story… and appreciation for my mom’s vitality and voluntary contributions to Dance New England specifically, over several years. Leslie serves in all the communities she interfaces with...

My mom was a thriving, participating member of DNE for 27 years before moving down to Austin, Texas several years ago.  DNE is the longest community I’ve been involved with. You may know me as part of the cooking crew for the past several years providing for all y’all’s hungry bellies. I have been returning to camp yearly since first arriving 24 years ago in the womb...

In my mama’s bones rolls a long history of dance, from folk and technical dance to contact improvisation and the whirling as well as leaping forms of ecstatic dance. She is indeed a magical whirlwind…

Leslie's participation in DNE however, has not just been an ocean of force on the dance floor. Some of you may remember her as the last unpaid childcare coordinator (the template she set up many years ago still holds) or later as a teacher in childcare. For years she served on committees such as (the first) Leadership, Elder and Mediation Councils and later served as consultant. Leslie was instrumental in the drafting of DNE’s initial Safety Statement.

Leslie has been a shaker and stirrer of motion, in both the physical and mental realms.  Leslie has been a practicing therapist for almost 30 years and a facilitator where ever she goes. Under Texas sun, my mother continues to dance and serve her communities, gracing the dance floors and supporting her clients. 

Mutual aid is brick building with many hands... The more hands, the lighter the 'work'. There is a lot of mutual aid needed in our worldsphere, and I encourage you to sprinkle your dollars when/where ever you can… It doesn’t need to be a large donation - small amounts add up…

Please contribute what you can and know that my mom and I are humbled in gratitude… Again, thank you from the bottom to brim of our hearts.

Love,

Liam Woodworth-Cook and Leslie Woodworth