Hi, I'm Michele Dennis, a longtime friend and colleague of Andrea Devaux. Her ALS continues to progress. She is at a critical juncture. Andrea, is completely paralyzed and can not feed herself. She can only eat liquified food which has to be hand fed to her with a turkey baster. She can not even suck food through a straw. Her feeding has to be done very slowly. She has had a succession of caregivers, and has a part time one now. But they need more help.

Her daughter Kat and 4 year old granddaughter, Nova live with her full time. Kat does all of her personal care. However, the task of feeding is nearly full time, and Kat can not keep up with it.

Please consider helping as much as you can. And if you are comfortable helping her with basic needs, consider signing up on her calendar to help feed her and or other tasks. Insurance does not cover this sort of help. With all of this, Andrea can really use your help to help pay for extra caretaking, rents and van services going forward. And to support and allow her to help pay her daughter a stipend so she can afford to look after Andrea full-time.

Andrea is still reeling from the death of her dear partner, Leslie who died of cancer in early April.

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FIRST POSTING:

Many of us know Andrea for her almost 3 decades working in the film industry as a Script Supervisor and/or Director; as an amazing public speaking coach and author; as the President and Cofounder of a woman’s business networking group (NEWofMarin); and for 25 years as a part time fitness instructor (teaching 5 different formats at various Bay Area gyms). In all those capacities she is known for her wit, intuition, humor, intelligence, and teamwork. She has always looked out for her fellow crew members, creating community wherever she goes. She is wonderfully generous with her time and energy. But most importantly, she is a good friend.

Andrea is currently in the fight of her life.

Since May, Andrea has been experiencing symptoms synonymous with ALS, a fatal motor neuron disease. It causes progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, it affects voluntary control of arms and legs, ultimately leading to the inability to swallow and breathe.

So far 3 doctors (2 of them, Neurologists) believe what she has is likely ALS. She is currently waiting to be seen by yet another ALS specialist at UCSF. There is no single test to diagnose ALS. From symptom onset to diagnosis it usually takes 12 months.

In just a few short months, Andrea has lost her ability to be flexible and strong. Her speech pattern is now slow and deliberate, her every move now calculated due to her wobbly leg, drop foot and weak arm. She can no longer drive and now walks with a cane.

In this condition she can no longer work. But for those of us who know her well, she is still a fighter! And her sense of humor, and upbeat positivity still shines through.

Due to these unforeseen health issues, she can use all the help she can get right now — both to cover current expenses — and to hopefully fund stem cell treatments that have proven helpful to ALS patients participating in recent research studies (not currently FDA approved).

Please be as generous as you can.

Thank you,

Michele