Help a disabled wildlife writer move house

Fundraising campaign by skannie
  • US$605.00
    raised of $1,800.00 goal goal
33% Funded
16 Donors

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities

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Very Sad News

 

We are deeply saddened to tell you that we lost our friend Eileen last week. With the help of the kind donors here, she was able to spend some happy days with her son and his fiancée in their house, and sleep comfortably in the beautiful green room they put together for her. But then her medical condition got worse and they took her to the hospital. And now she's gone. Everyone who knew her on Hanging Out - and everywhere else - is heart-broken. 

 

Obituary  

Her son wrote these words about her

 

Eileen Marie Fay - January 22, 2015

Life Legacy

 At the age of 65, Eileen Marie Fay left her body on the afternoon of Thursday January 22nd 2015 with her son John and his fiancée Cathy holding her hands. Eileen will be remembered for her wit and her whistle, for her operatic voice and compassionate heart. With a Master’s degree in Education from Claremont Graduate University she taught at elementary schools in California and New York, and former students from the 1980s and 1990s often remember her as their favorite substitute. Her love of literature and language was only outmatched by her love of living things, including animals, family and friends. She wrote passionately in journals of wildlife defense activism, and frequently and tirelessly went out of her way to protect all creatures great and small. Those that knew her would agree that she categorically put others’ needs before hers. An author as well as an educator, her novel In Loco Parentis will be published posthumously by her son. Besides John, she is survived by her cat Tom and by her legacy of empathy, warmth and cheer. Eileen will always be missed, for the world seems like a harder place without her gentle presence, but she has instilled a sense of goodness in those she embraced which elevates our hope and sustains our faith in kindness and innocence.

 

Memorial Page

 

Heartfelt thanks from Eileen's friends and family go out to all who donated here. Acceptance of donations will now cease. 

 

You are invited to leave a message of sympathy in the guest book at Eileen's memorial web page provided by Hudson Valley Funeral Homes.

 

 

News - A Haven of Refuge  

Early in the new year Eileen made the move into her son John's house, to be lovingly cared for by him and his partner Cathy.

They sent us this photo of her sitting in her cosy new green room.  Eileen in her cosy new green room

Unfortunately the move couldn't happen in time for Christmas. But on January 3 2015 we got this very welcome news. 

"At this very moment my mom is napping in her new, bright green room, safe and sound as can be. She was so thrilled to see the house and know she has a place here. Give our love to everyone who has helped in this."  

Two days later Eileen herself wrote to us about her new home that she called "A Haven of Refuge" 

"My hopes and expectations have been fulfilled to such an extent I can scarcely credit them! John and Cathy have gone beyond the call of duty and made their spare room into a very comfortable living space for me." 

 Her cat Tom seems happy with the move too. 

"Tom is adjusting to the new quarters well and is happily sleeping on the bed." 

 

Medical Care

Eileen is also in the care of an excellent medical team. They are providing the intensive treatment and pain management that she needs for her very serious medical condition. The costs are covered by Medicaid. She is bearing it all with her usual bravery and cheerfulness.

 

New Deadline  

Many thanks to all who have donated! The funds raised so far have already been given to her family and put to good use. Now we have decided to extend the fundraising deadline to it's maximum length so we can help with ongoing needs. They are all very touched by the messages of love and support from donors, so please keep them coming.

 

Updates

You can find more detailed news, and post your own comments and messages, if you click on the Updates tab or scroll down and look in the sidebar on the right.

 

Why she needs help

Our dear friend Eileen, the wildlife writer, is suffering from some very painful and disabling health problems that are making it very difficult for her to continue living alone in her little cabin in the woods in up-state New York. Her son and his partner are doing their best to help her, but they live two hours away. They want her to go and live with them, so they can take care of her and help her get the medical treatment she urgently needs.

 

What the money is needed for

They are a big-hearted family, but unfortunately they don't have any money to spare to make the move possible. First some money is needed to finish fixing up a room for Eileen in her son's small house, and to buy a room heater. Then they'll need to rent a truck to move all her stuff. Some friends have promised to help with shifting everything. Most of her belongings will have to be put into rented storage for a while. Her son's truck also needs new shock absorbers and other maintenance, so he can keep on driving her to hospital for regular treatments and checkups during the winter.  

 

Why we want to help her 

Many people in Barbara Sher's online community know and love Eileen for her kindness and support on Barbara's bulletin boards, and more recently in the Hanging Out With Barbara Club. She has also devoted a large part of her life to helping animals. But she is a very modest and unassuming person and hates asking for help for herself, no matter how much she deserves it. So now Barbara and I are asking Eileen's friends for help on her behalf. 

 

Donations

You can give as much or as little as you want. All contributions of any size will be very much appreciated. We are not promising any rewards except for a warm glow inside because you did something good, and big virtual {{{{hugs}}}} from us.

 

Barbara Sher and Skannie

Organizer

Donors

  • Kimberly Stewart
  • Donated on Jan 19, 2015
$25.00
  • Karen Lyu
  • Donated on Jan 19, 2015
  • Thanks for all your contributions to all the Barbara Sher communities, Eileen! Glad you love your new home.

$10.00
  • Guest
  • Donated on Jan 13, 2015
$25.00
Jan 15

Jan 15 2015 - Ongoing treatment

Update posted by skannie at 02:02 pm

Eileen is very seriously ill and her doctors say she needs intensive ongoing treatment. But she is a very private person and we are respecting her wishes not to reveal details of her illness and treatment regime. She recently developed a problem that gave us all a fright, but she

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Jan 15

Jan 14 2015 - A new deadline

Update posted by skannie at 01:59 pm

Now the move is completed, we have decided to extend the fundraising deadline to the maximum length allowed so we can give Eileen and her family some ongoing support. The donated money is being passed on to them as it arrives, and some has already been put to good use.

See update
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Jan 15

Jan 8 2015 Eileen in her new home

Update posted by skannie at 01:55 pm

John sent us news of some more progress, and even better, a photo of Eileen in her lovely green room, which I’ll post on the main page. “Here's a blurry cell phone picture for the meantime.  Since then the hospital bed has arrived and we've added some other stuff.  I

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Jan 15

Jan 5 2015 - A Haven of Refuge

Update posted by skannie at 01:46 pm

That was the heading on an email from Eileen herself “My hopes and expectations have been fulfilled to such an extent I can scarcely credit them! The charm and accoutrements of my new living quarters have been fashioned to such a delightful extreme level that I am in seventh heaven,. . . . .

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Jan 15

Jan 3 2015 She moved in!

Update posted by skannie at 01:38 pm

The plan for Eileen to move before Christmas didn’t work out. But just a couple of days into the new year we were delighted to get this news from John. "At this very moment my mom is napping in her new, bright green room, safe and sound as can be. . . . . .

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Jan 15

Dec 22 2014 - Getting the room ready

Update posted by skannie at 01:29 pm

Eileen’s son John and his partner Cathy are working hard to get a room in their house ready for Eileen so she can move in with them. Here’s an update from John. "Got some drywall and shelf parts today and am taping and spackling the walls right now. Cathy brought a. . . . .

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Donors & Comments

16 donors
  • Kimberly Stewart
  • Donated on Jan 19, 2015
$25.00
  • Karen Lyu
  • Donated on Jan 19, 2015
  • Thanks for all your contributions to all the Barbara Sher communities, Eileen! Glad you love your new home.

$10.00
  • Guest
  • Donated on Jan 13, 2015
$25.00
  • David F
  • Donated on Jan 12, 2015
  • I wish you well with your move; it has been a learning experience hanging out on barbarasher.com

Amount Hidden
  • Elizabeth Loupas
  • Donated on Jan 09, 2015
  • Wishing you the best, Eileen!

Amount Hidden
  • Another online friend
  • Donated on Dec 20, 2014
  • My thoughts are with you in this difficult time, Eileen. My very best wishes to you and your family.

$15.00
  • Guest
  • Donated on Dec 19, 2014
$50.00
  • Jim Chandler
  • Donated on Dec 15, 2014
  • Any friend of Barb and Skannie is a friend of mine. Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

$100.00
  • Luisa
  • Donated on Dec 15, 2014
  • Elaine deserves this if I ever saw it. Hang in there, Elaine, we are with you!

Amount Hidden
  • animal loving friend from HO :)
  • Donated on Dec 14, 2014
  • Eileen is the best!!! She contributed to my fundraiser when she needed help herself. Although we have never met in person, I consider her one of my sweetest friends. Hugs, Eileen!

$50.00
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US$605.00
raised of $1,800.00 goal
33% Funded
16 Donors

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities