Over the years, each of us has supported our dear friend, Lisa Berg, through challenges no one should have to face. Today, her situation has reached a critical point — so we’ve come together from across the country (Colorado, Tennessee, California, Utah, and Florida) to form a support team and take action.
Each of us has been touched by Lisa’s warmth, generosity, and strength. Whether you knew her as a childhood friend, a standout high school journalist, a tireless colleague in the Southern California sports broadcasting scene, or the vibrant voice at Music Row magazine in Nashville, one thing was always clear: Lisa gives her all to everything and everyone around her.
Her former boss, a highly accomplished, 40-year career sports television executive said it best: “Lisa was the best employee I ever had. Her work ethic and passion are unmatched.”
Inspired by her love of sports and her background as a high school basketball player, we’ve dubbed ourselves “The Lisa Berg Team.” We’re a mix of professionals: two attorneys, (Don Bugg, Jannine Mohr) a journalism teacher/arts activist, (Connie Schlelein,) a counselor/basketball coach, (Bill Schlelein,) a sports television executive, (Tom Reilly,) a loyal childhood friend, (Lora Murray,) and a top local Realtor (Robert Walkowicz)bringing our collective skills to help Lisa develop a path forward.
WHAT HAPPENED?
After graduating from Loveland High in 1985 and earning her degree in journalism/broadcasting from California State University, Fullerton, Lisa's star rose quickly. She played a key role in launching an Emmy Award-winning, regional television sports news program called "Press Box" on Prime Ticket Network. Then she went to work as News Editor for Music Row magazine in Nashville, where she also thrived, as she did in her subsequent role as a multi-format music researcher for Premiere Radio Networks/Mediabase.
Then tragedy struck. Both her parents became seriously ill. As an only child, with no extended family to lean on, Lisa sold her Nashville home and moved back to Loveland to get the best care for them. First her mother battled breast cancer, then her father declined rapidly with aggressive Alzheimer’s. She exhausted her savings and credit to pay for his hospice care when insurance ran out, and when the funds dried up, she took on the overwhelming task of 24-hour caregiving alone , enduring emotional and physical trauma in the process.
After her parents passed, she had to declare bankruptcy and fought to rebuild, working three jobs to get her credit back and financially get back on her feet. And that, she did.
Then came March of 2020. Lisa contracted COVID-19 from an unsafe work environment, long before vaccines were available, and developed debilitating Long COVID, which morphed into other chronic illnesses:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM)
These have left her largely homebound, physically fragile, and severely financially strained. Despite it all, Lisa poured her remaining energy into pivoting and expanding her in-home online business, which she’s had since 2006 — creating laser-cut cake toppers, baby birth announcements, and other items. However low income due to health, mounting medical bills, and constant stress have made it impossible for her to keep up. She is set up for future success with her commercial laser, three decades of e-commerce acumen, future ideas aplenty, and even recent (difficult!) approval to sell on Amazon! She’s applied for disability with the help of a law firm, but approval for these conditions is uncertain, and a slow, uphill process.
HOW WE’LL USE THE FUNDS
Every dollar raised will go toward helping Lisa regain stability and peace of mind. Your support will help:
1. Cover mortgage payments so she has time to heal (and to save her house)
2. Pay medical bills, deductibles, and necessary treatments not covered by insurance
3. Afford specialized medical tests, health devices and therapy to help her manage chronic illnesses
4. Purchase new supplies and hire part-time help for her laser business to expand offerings and increase sales on Amazon, Etsy, her Website, and eBay
4. Begin the process of a basement conversion into a short-term rental unit (possibly for visiting nurses or college grad students) for monthly income.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Even small actions can make a big difference. Here’s how you can support Lisa:
1. Donate to her GoFundMe — anything, small or large helps and is greatly appreciated
2. Share this campaign far and wide on your social media - we believe the right eyeballs on this can change her life
3. Consider hiring her for at home, part-time remote work (or even flexible full-time) like writing, researching, or customer service.
4. Visit her Etsy and Amazon shops, recommend them or make a purchase, and leave positive reviews (she is “Art by Iceberg” on all e-commerce sites and social media):
5. Help us advocate — we’re contacting state and federal representatives to fast-track her disability case
Thank you for taking the time to read Lisa’s story. It’s heartbreaking to see someone so gifted, generous, and hardworking fall into crisis through no fault of her own. But we believe in the power of community — and we believe in Lisa.
Let’s help prevent catastrophe and give her the fresh start she deserves. Let’s change the ending of this story — together.
The Lisa Berg Team