Message From Ross!

Hi All,

I’m home now, and home is a new place we got in East Boston. It is gorgeous here, we live right on the waterfront across from seaport on Boston Harbor. It’s been fun being out of hospitals and nursing homes and being home, this is a great place.

I’ve started to get back to doing some work with CLAE along with my serious therapy. In therapy I am doing Physical therapy, learning how to walk again and get around the house and my surroundings. My Occupational therapy is focusing on getting my arm to work again and living independently. I also have Speech therapy, which involves lots of exercises concerning the ability to talk and the ability to improve my cognition. Most of my time is still spent on therapy, and starting in about a week I will begin outpatient therapy at Braintree Rehab Hospital.

As a result of this Fund I have been able to hire the people I need to be able to live here. I have two Personal Care Attendants who spend 50-60 hours a week with me. This has been a tremendous help to me and allowed Care and Caitlin to do their work as well.

For those of you who haven’t been able to come and see where we live yet we would love to have you visit! There is a gorgeous park at the end of the street where some of the pictures we just posted were taken.

I’ve started using the computer again, so will try to post more frequently. Thanks for all of your support, it means a lot to me and is what allows me to be at home and not in an institution. Looking forward to a fun summer on the water.

Thanks!!
Ross

Update from Ross’ Wife – Care

Hi Folks –
A quick update that Ross is really looking forward to going home in the next 10 days or so. YEAH!! We are now interviewing for Personal Care Assistants (PCAs if you want the lingo) to help with Ross when he comes home (anyone know anyone in the Boston area interested in this?) Next we’ll be working on setting up his transitional therapy until he is ready to go to outpatient therapy. Much to do before he arrives home including getting the home equipment ready.

Ross is walking more and more everyday and is working on his speech therapy to assist with his writing and computer skills. He is trying so hard to do everything he can to get the most out of therapy. It a struggle for him sometimes but he keeps at it.
In the meantime, Caitlin and I are getting the apartment ready for Ross and also working hard on the house in Exeter. We’ve been so busy but could not have done everything without the help from some of you! So thanks to everyone for all the help during this time. You can’t imagine how much it means to all of us.

As they say, keep those cards and letters coming! Ross loves hearing from all of you even if it’s just a short story!!
Care

Match Extended until March 15!

Due to the generosity of our Annonymous donor, the $5,000.00 Match has been extended until Macrh 15! We’re halfway to raising the $5,000.00 needed to obtain this wonderful matching opportunity. Please help us raise much needed funds to help with Ross’ recovery. Keep your thoughts and dollars coming!

Still time to help!

We have a $5,000 match on the table ending in February and we still have almost $4,000 to raise to receive this entire match. With Ross moving home this month, costs for uncovered rehab services will increase substantially!
Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far – the outpouring of concern and cash has been very moving.
Jim

Update from Care

Hi Everyone –
I get the hint – more news!! I agree as there is good news to tell. Ross is up and walking more and more everyday. He still has a long way to go but is doing better everyday. We are now working with the Boston Center for Independent Living to get Ross ready to come home. He will be coming out of the Nursing Home somewhere around the first week of March if everything works out. His new address will be: 195 Webster St. Apt #1, East Boston, MA 02128.

We have had such wonderful help from all of our friends and colleagues over that last few months. It really been amazing – everyone has pitched in to help get Ross (and his stuff) ready. We have a few more hills to climb but I’m sure we’ll make it. We will have to set up Personal Care Assistance to help Ross during the day when he is not in therapy, and will at some point need to figure out something for a motorized wheelchair for city use. So thank all of you for your donations. It really will mean that Ross will be able to get back to his life’s work sooner. You have all been wonderful.

Thanks,
Care

Another Challenge – $5,000.00 match until end of February!

Great news, we have another generous matching opportunity on the table. Funds will be matched up to $5,000.00 until the end of February! Let’s step up to the challenge and keep cheering for Ross!

Match Made!

Thanks to all we have reached the full $10,000 match. If you have read Care’s recent post, you will know that Ross will, hopefully, soon be leaving Ledgewood and moving into an apartment. The Recovery Fund will be used to pay for outpatient services at the apartment and for various other expenses incurred to allow him to live independently. We expect these expenses to be substantial.

Exciting News!

Until the end of January, an anonymous person has pledged to match donations made to the Ross M. Dolloff Recovery Fund up to a maximum of $10,000. This is an unbelievable opportunity for us to obtain significant funds to help Ross’ recovery.

If you were thinking about donating, but just haven’t gotten to it yet, please consider donating now. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

You may donate via PayPal on this site or by check:

Ross M. Dolloff Recovery Fund
c/o Jim Breslauer
130 Poor Farm Road
Harvard, MA 01451-1239

Thanks,
Jim Breslauer

Holiday Greetings for Ross!

CLAE Dancing

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Ross M. Dolloff Recovery Fund Established

As many of you know, Ross is in for a long, hard rehabilitation. It should come as little surprise to anyone that Ross and Care’s health insurance will not cover all of his costs. We have set up this fund to assist Ross and his family pay for the rehabilitation he will need for years to come. We are asking all those folks who know Ross, who have been inspired and learned from him, to contribute as much as you can so that he will be able to return to work as soon as possible.

Ross’s intensive rehab costs for 60 days at Spaulding Hospital were not fully covered by the insurance. Ross is now in Ledgewood Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Beverly where he receives intensive rehab daily. The insurance will only cover 80% of the daily cost for a maximum of 45 days. While Ross is making good progress, he will need extended rehab – well beyond 6 weeks – to recover as fully as possible. While we are hopeful that MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) will pay for most of his in-patient rehab, we anticipate substantial additional costs when Ross returns home.

In an effort to assist the Dolloff family and to aid in Ross’ recovery, we have established a Trust – the Ross M. Dolloff Recovery Fund. The Trust is now established with me, James Breslauer, as trustee. Contributions can be made out to the Ross M. Dolloff Recovery Fund and sent to: Ross M. Dolloff Recovery Fund c/o Jim Breslauer 130 Poor Farm Road, Harvard, MA 01451-1239. Funds sent will be deposited within 2 days. Anyone interested in contributing stocks, bonds or real estate should contact Jim.

For those of you who don’t know me, let me give you a brief biography. I have been a legal services attorney for over 30 years. I have been Ross’ friend for many years and have worked directly with him at Neighborhood Legal Services since 1996. When Ross asked if I would act as trustee for this fund I was honored that he would consider me for this position and overwhelmed by the responsibility it entailed. Given the love and respect I have for Ross, I never considered saying no. It should go without saying that I will take no fee for my work. 

The costs Ross and his family are facing are daunting. In addition to the Spaulding bill, and the ongoing Ledgewoood costs (approximately $1000. per day), when Ross is able to return home he will need continuing rehabilitation and may very well need a live-in attendant for some period of time. Without assistance Ross may very well not be able to achieve his optimum rehabilitation. We want and need Ross to return to his work, training legal services attorneys. No one does it better.

This is not a solicitation for a charity that may assist anonymous people or animals. This is a plea for help for ROSS. Please be as generous as possible.