Tara Is One in a Million. Help Her Live with ALS.

This fundraiser is for Tara Blomquist’s medical expenses. Her niece, Carrie Tabora, is managing the account.

Tara Blomquist is my close friend, and she is tragically and painfully dying. Last spring Tara was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the Yankee Hall of Famer who died of the disease in 1941. As is often the case, Tara’s ALS had gone undiagnosed for a year in spite of her having many of the symptoms.

ALS afflicts one out of 200,000 Americans each year. Tara has Familial ALS which is twice as merciless and deadly and incredibly rare. Only one out of million Americans are diagnosed with Familial ALS every year.

Tara is now confined to a motorized wheelchair and in need of round-the-clock care. She is dependent upon an aide for all of her personal needs. Her speech and dexterity are failing in spite of ongoing therapies. As a result of the ALS she has been afflicted with several chronic ailments that have caused her to be hospitalized many times since she was diagnosed. Her income is limited, and she has sold almost everything she owns to pay for her care to this point. Her only family, her older brother and her niece, Carrie, live far away and are unable to care for her.

Tara worked as an artist for most of her adult life. She designed and installed billboards, painted landscapes and portraits, designed and painted motifs on furniture, and created murals in homes and commercial establishments. She was a talented seamstress. Her husband of thirty years, Bill Neville, was a well known cartoonist, commercial artist and courtroom artist. Bill passed away six years ago after suffering from Lewy Body Dementia for several years. Even while working and taking care of her ailing mother and husband, Tara always made time to advocate for many causes including civil rights, racial equity, and womens’ rights. She loved her Pomeranians, and owned several over the years. Unfortunately she had to give away her last dog, a rescue, as she could no longer care for her.

Please pray for Tara’s health, and give what you can towards funding her medical and custodial care. Tara is the beneficiary of all of the funds raised. Her niece, Carrie Tabora, is managing the funds. Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who has donated. Every dollar you give means so much.

Best wishes for a happy new year.

Jane Kraemer