Elena’s care and end of life celebration
Donation protected
After a diagnosis of glioblastoma stage 4 in June, 2019, Elena has been fighting this brain tumor through surgeries and chemo and radiation. While her second surgery by Saadi Ghatan, MD drastically reduced the size of the tumor, its devastating progression was not effected much by subsequent radiation and chemotherapy. Elena has chosen to return from Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan on November 23 to her Brooklyn apartment together with the help of hospice and her loving family.
Home care is not easy as Elena is unable to leave her bed, but the attention of friends, family and home care workers has been critical. Elena’s family is doing its best to supplement the home care that is being provided, and have found committed caregivers to add to the few hours per day provided through insurance.
We are asking for contributions to keep Elena well-cared for at home and so that the immediate family can make preparations for Elena’s ultimate transition. Elena remains a fighter and just a few days ago asked that her passport be ready.
To honor Elena’s strong spirit we will be sending a T-Shirt to each contributor of $50 or more – a glowing brain, with the inscription “To hell with the tumor. Get me my passport!” Elena Orlova Laverty
Many of you know Groovy Rebels, Elena's line of hats, scarves and brooches, have one of your own already or have been asking about them. Therefore, for higher contributions, we are offering a limited number of Elena's Groovy Rebels creations for contributions at levels of $75 (fish head brooch), $125 (medium-sized fish) $150 (hat) and $250 (matching couple/parent- child hats). Numbers are limited to 5 creations at each donation level. The rest of the Groovy Rebels collection will be kept together as her legacy.
Let us know by contacting Eric at eric@lavertystudio,com the amount you wish to contribute and your favorite type of Groovy Rebel, and we’ll see what we can arrange! See photos below, and visit the options at http://www.groovyrebels.com/ or Groovy Rebels Facebook page at Groovy Rebels by Ele-o-Nor.
Elena is originally from Kiev, Ukraine, and she has lived in the New York area for 25 years.
In Elena’s own words as the tumor progressed over the few short months since June:
· July 17, 2019. On June 21st I got to Presbyterian ER because left part of my body got switched off/that was the exact feeling. My CT showed no stroke, but an MRI showed a cloud on the right side of my brain. On June 25th I had brain surgery-the tumor couldn’t be removed completely. Though the surgeon said that it looked like low grade cancerous glioma, the pathology result brought a huge blow : glioblastoma stage 4! And I was told it’s incurable with the only treatment available is chemo and radiation -30 radiation sessions along with chemo, and was given 2 to 15 months time. Please Be good to each other and love yourself! Don’t procrastinate too much (unfortunately one of my wrong doings) Live your life NOW! Smile and be happy! Make someone else happy every day!! I love you all and I promise to fight till my last breath with dignity
· August 19, 2019. I am back to the hospital - my left arm and left leg are paralyzed – I was promised 15 months to live but now MRI showed a significant growth of the tumor. Please dear friends even old and distant ones, I beg of you to call me.
· October 4, 2019. I can’t control how long I will be around but I can and want to live my life as normal as possible and to leave the hospital asap and go to the place I call home – a very small Brooklyn rental apartment with a backyard. I must look to what I have -my right arm and my right leg are strong.
· November 12, 2019. I'm Here! And I'm going to continue being here. It's been a rough time since my last update. Chemo really hurt my blood - slowly recovering since my last pill, but I finished my radiation treatments -Yea! Message me if you want to visit - still in the hospital.
· November 23, 2019. [Elena made it home, surrounded by family and friends for a small gathering.]
· November 24, 2019. [Elena has been going through good and bad moments, but through it all, she insisted to her husband Eric – “get me my passport”!]
Home care is not easy as Elena is unable to leave her bed, but the attention of friends, family and home care workers has been critical. Elena’s family is doing its best to supplement the home care that is being provided, and have found committed caregivers to add to the few hours per day provided through insurance.
We are asking for contributions to keep Elena well-cared for at home and so that the immediate family can make preparations for Elena’s ultimate transition. Elena remains a fighter and just a few days ago asked that her passport be ready.
To honor Elena’s strong spirit we will be sending a T-Shirt to each contributor of $50 or more – a glowing brain, with the inscription “To hell with the tumor. Get me my passport!” Elena Orlova Laverty
Many of you know Groovy Rebels, Elena's line of hats, scarves and brooches, have one of your own already or have been asking about them. Therefore, for higher contributions, we are offering a limited number of Elena's Groovy Rebels creations for contributions at levels of $75 (fish head brooch), $125 (medium-sized fish) $150 (hat) and $250 (matching couple/parent- child hats). Numbers are limited to 5 creations at each donation level. The rest of the Groovy Rebels collection will be kept together as her legacy.
Let us know by contacting Eric at eric@lavertystudio,com the amount you wish to contribute and your favorite type of Groovy Rebel, and we’ll see what we can arrange! See photos below, and visit the options at http://www.groovyrebels.com/ or Groovy Rebels Facebook page at Groovy Rebels by Ele-o-Nor.
Elena is originally from Kiev, Ukraine, and she has lived in the New York area for 25 years.
In Elena’s own words as the tumor progressed over the few short months since June:
· July 17, 2019. On June 21st I got to Presbyterian ER because left part of my body got switched off/that was the exact feeling. My CT showed no stroke, but an MRI showed a cloud on the right side of my brain. On June 25th I had brain surgery-the tumor couldn’t be removed completely. Though the surgeon said that it looked like low grade cancerous glioma, the pathology result brought a huge blow : glioblastoma stage 4! And I was told it’s incurable with the only treatment available is chemo and radiation -30 radiation sessions along with chemo, and was given 2 to 15 months time. Please Be good to each other and love yourself! Don’t procrastinate too much (unfortunately one of my wrong doings) Live your life NOW! Smile and be happy! Make someone else happy every day!! I love you all and I promise to fight till my last breath with dignity
· August 19, 2019. I am back to the hospital - my left arm and left leg are paralyzed – I was promised 15 months to live but now MRI showed a significant growth of the tumor. Please dear friends even old and distant ones, I beg of you to call me.
· October 4, 2019. I can’t control how long I will be around but I can and want to live my life as normal as possible and to leave the hospital asap and go to the place I call home – a very small Brooklyn rental apartment with a backyard. I must look to what I have -my right arm and my right leg are strong.
· November 12, 2019. I'm Here! And I'm going to continue being here. It's been a rough time since my last update. Chemo really hurt my blood - slowly recovering since my last pill, but I finished my radiation treatments -Yea! Message me if you want to visit - still in the hospital.
· November 23, 2019. [Elena made it home, surrounded by family and friends for a small gathering.]
· November 24, 2019. [Elena has been going through good and bad moments, but through it all, she insisted to her husband Eric – “get me my passport”!]
Organizer
David Laverty
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY