Support Iris Brumer's Fight Against ALS

Dear Family, Friends, and to the Compassionate Community,

As many of you may know, my best friend, Iris Brumer, has been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. ALS is a debilitating and devastating medical diagnosis, a cruel condition that robs a person of their vitality, strength, mobility and eventually their life.

Sadly, Iris and her boys, Nadav and Asaph, endured a devastating loss in 2012, when David, her beloved husband and their father, died unexpectedly. The community was also gravely impacted by this sudden loss and I was amazed at the outpouring of support, generosity and kindness that enveloped the family then.

Since then, Iris raised two incredible young men and never failed to show up for others who had their own losses or challenges. Her kindness, warmth, humor and fun personality have touched countless people as is evidenced by the incredible outpouring of love and the constant parade of visitors who have shown up to be with Iris and her boys at this difficult time.

Iris’s career included being a life coach, a hair stylist and teacher. However, the rapid deterioration of Iris’s mobility and her inability to work in any capacity are a result of ALS and the disease is progressing rapidly. To help care for Iris, Nadav has had to work remotely from New York and will need to travel back and forth as he is required to be in person for a number of days per month. Asaph works full days on job sites and helps care for Iris in the evenings.

The medical system in the US has its limits and many out of pocket costs are not covered. Your kind donation will help with the cost to modify accessibility in her home as the disease progresses, obtain additional home care for Iris when her boys are not available during the day, and stem the exorbitant costs that are not covered by Medicare. For example, home care costs are not covered and average at $45/hr, which means that daytime assistance could balloon towards $7,200 a month.

This is a difficult story and it has been especially challenging for Iris and her boys to agree to a fundraising campaign, as it is usually Iris who lends a hand and helps others. I have spoken with so many who have asked "What can we do?". I am writing to ask for you to share any financial support that you can on their behalf. Unfortunately, the needs are real and immediate, and I am boldly asking that you share as generously as you are able. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference.

Our goal is to continue to raise money for Iris that helps not just with the short-term financial burden brought on by this horrible disease, but to help address the long-term needs that will remain. If you’d like to make other arrangements to support Iris with financial donations, please reach out to me directly.

I thank you in advance for your kind consideration on behalf of our friend whom we all love so dearly. Your kindness and generosity will never be forgotten.

Thank you for your compassion and support during this difficult time.

Issy Kleiman, best friend and soul sister to Iris