He said the burden Judy and Bob are carrying as care givers is another tragic aspect of the disease. But Judy and her husband are carrying it through. Kim is confined to an electric wheelchair, has no feeling from the waist down, diminished lung capacity, minimal use of her left arm and poor vision, and cannot use her right arm. She lives at 3030 Park Health Center in Bridgeport and needs constant care. As frustrating as life can be for Judy, she looks forward to going to work.
Work is a release, a challenge and enjoyable.
It gives me a chance to focus on something other than MS and Kim. I enjoy being with and working with the young students. Judy said she has deeply appreciated throughout this ordeal the prayers of co-workers and priests for Kim, the friends who have taken her and her husband to dinner or lunch, the calls to offer support or just to listen, contributions to their solicitations and just the smiles, hugs and cards. She cited in particular, Anne Cole, director of the Student Health Center who has gone out of her way to arrange crucial transportation for Kim to doctor's visits, and John Krenisky, who taught information systems part-time and called the Arels every night during a critical period. To deal with the pain of their daughter's illness and the frustration of people who have distanced themselves or ignored them, the Arels have committed themselves to fund-raising for the Western Connecticut Chapter.