Pay It Forward To Sheila Lauder

My name is Susan Skilling and I am making an appeal on behalf of my dear friend, Sheila Lauder, who was a beloved Script Supervisor and Associate Producer in Hollywood and England for over 40 years. I am turning to you along with my friend Alexa Junge (a showrunner and writer who worked with Sheila for five years on the television show FRIENDS) in the hopes that you may be able to open your hearts to this extraordinary woman as she faces financial challenges brought on by requiring care to address Alzheimer's related issues. 

Some time ago it became apparent Sheila -- who will be eighty  in August -- was becoming increasingly more forgetful. An MRI and neuropsychological evaluation confirmed significant, progressive cognitive impairment. I will have you know however Sheila remains extremely lucid except for short term memory issues. Soon after this news, Sheila tripped over her beloved dog, Scout, which resulted in a displaced shoulder fracture. This incident changed everything for Sheila and her finances. In addition to being in chronic physical pain, Sheila required 24/7 care at home via caregivers.

While Sheila has monthly income in the form of Social Security, a small Motion Picture pension, as well as a small quarterly English pension, Sheila simply has more going out than coming in while paying necessary caregivers $23.00 and hour. This has been the case since last August 10th when Sheila tripped over Scout. This is the primary reason for this campaign. While her short-term memory is very poor and like so many who suffer with this cruel and devastating disease, she is aware at times she is losing her most precious resource: her witty, wonderful mind.

My goal for Sheila is that she be able to live out her days in her own home surrounded by the fabric of her life (Sheila's words) and her two wonderful dogs, Scout and Rags. She has been a mentor, Big Sister, was one of several women who saw the need and helped create a NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) chapter in our area, has donated to Smile Train, the Special Olympics and a host of other charitable organizations. I am hoping some of her social activism will come back to her in her time of need. I can assure you Sheila remains a deeply proud woman who has worked for everything she has all of her life. A pioneer in her field, Sheila brought incomparable excellence (and her rapier wit) to the work she loved and was treasured by those lucky enough to work with her.

When I listen to the title song from FRIENDS, "I'll Be There For You', the lyrics reduce me to tears given where Sheila finds herself presently. Sheila worked so hard for so long with an open heart and a spectacular spirit. She never imagined this stage of her life "Was gonna be this way." Alexa and I hope folks will be there for Sheila as "The rain has begun to pour."

Projects Sheila worked on:

Hard Day's Night,
Ready, Steady, Go!
Shindig!
Petula
The Andy Williams Show
Rowan and Martin's Laugh In
The Oldest Living Graduate
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Cher... and Other Fantasies
Elvis in Concert
Bette MIdler:  Ol' Red Hair is Back
Neil Diamond: Love at the Greek
Grease Day USA
Marblehead Manor
You Can't Take It With You
Land of the Lost
Alf
56th Academy Awards
Bosom Buddies
Open All Night
All the Way Hme
No Soap, Radio
Night Court
Double Trouble
Punky Brewster
You Again?
A Very Retail Christmas
Uncle Buck
Roseanne
Princesses
Family Matters
Blue Skies
Partners
World War II: When Lions Roared
Titus
Dharma & Greg
Friends

(A few) of the folks Sheila still remembers so fondly...

Tom Hanks, Will Mackenzie, Jennifer Aniston, Holland Taylor, Goldie Hawn, Chuck Lorre, Ruth Buzzi, Lily Tomlin, Carol Channing (who apparently called her "Little Sheila"), David W. Rintels, Timothy Hutton, Cloris Leachman George Schlatter, Marta Kauffman, David Crane, Carolyn Raskin, Jack Good, Kevin Meaney, Phillis Diller, Bob Hoskins, Michael Caine, John Lithgow, Matt LeBlanc, Ed Begley Jr., Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Adam Chase, Ira Underleider, Jeff Astrof, Mike Sikowitz, Scott and Shana Silvery, Jeff Greenstein, Michael Borkow, Wil Calhoun, Billy Goldenberg, Paul Fusco, Tom Patchett, Lisa Kudrow, Fran Drescher, Courteney Cox Jay Sandrich, Jim Drake, George Lucas, Steve Binder, James Widdoes, John Larroquette, Bette Midler, Terry Hughes, Beau Bridges, Dana De Vally Piazza, Peter Scolari, Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball and Elvis Presley.

If you happen to know anyone affiliated with Sheila's projects over the years, if you could please reach out to them and let them know of our campaign, we would be very grateful.  I have a strong feeling they will remember Sheila and her tremendous contribution.

Pretty impressive for a girl whose father worked in the coal mines in Northern England and who grew up in a house with no indoor plumming!