Community #4 A4 6/22 2001 32 ing and developing coping skills so as to hide my tremors from the world," Finsilver says. "ET patier . become experts ar living a life filled v,ith excuses, lies and deception. 'Around 40 years of age, my tremors became more severe and were greatly affecting my quality of life." "I didn't want anyone else to suffer like I did," Finsilver says of her decision to establish the support group. Shari Finsilver Dr. Peter LeWitt Most people have never heard of ET- and many was implanted in her brain, enabling her patients are misdiagnosed, and do not to suppress the tremor by controlling the receive proper medical information or stimulation with a special magnet. treatment. Sometimes, patients are told "I take every opportunity to educate they are nervous because their voices people about ET and DBS surgery," she quiver or they fear the ordeal of signing says. "I love freaking people out when a check in public. they learn that I am truly a living bionic "ET patients (may) think that they are woman." completely alone," Finsilver says. "They Last month's support group meeting never meet anyone else themselves. was led by Dr. Peter LeWitt, a Royal "I receive phone calls daily from peo- Oak-based Beaumont Clinical ple sufferir; from tremor," she says. Neuroscience Center neurologist special- "One caller, a woman in her 60s, has izing in movement disorders. He per- battled head and hand tremor for most formed Finsilver's surgery. of her life. She has now become reclu- Future meetings will include a presen- sive, due to her severe and embarrassing tation on the type of surgery performed head tremor. She cried when she talked on Finsilver; a talk by an occupational to me because she had never met or spo- therapist; a psychologist's discussion on ken to another person with her condi- relaxation, visualization and feedback to tion. reduce tremor and a demonstration of "I understood her feelings, experi- products and devices available to assist enced her life challenges, and spoke her with eating, drinking, writing and corn- language." puter use. Finsilver also recently spoke with a "The more informed patients are, the man whose 9-year-old son was diag- more they can be in control of a some- nosed with ET in his hands. "Their times uncontrollable medical situation," family was devastated, but relieved to Finsilver says. find a group existed to try and help The next step is for the group to go them help themselves," she says. out into the community to educate The initial meeting of the group about tremor, beginning in the schools brought nearly 40 individuals from a with school counselors and nurses. cross-section of ages, backgrounds and "I now need to reach the many people locations. who have no idea that ET exists or still Finsilver is not only an activist for think that they are the only person in information. about her disorder, but the world suffering from it." ❑ informs those affected of its treat- ment. Wanting to further educate the on on the Michigan Tremor public about ET, she hopes her Group, including the 7 p.m. group can be a vehicle for providing WIC 28, meeting at Temple Israel, information about support and spe- , (248) 683-2456 or access cialists so they can receive prrper wvvw.finsilver.com diagnosis. frnsilver@earthlinknet Medication that has proven effective in many was unsuccessful for tial tremor, contact the Finsilver, who had bilater- Foundation, 7046 West 105th al deep-brain stimulation Kansas 66212. (913) 341- surgery in 1999. A device b side at: called the Activa System Grosfelds Endow Leaders' Program Nancy and James Grosfeld have future communal leaders — by provid- endowed a substantial gift to promote ing them with an opportunity to learn Jewish identity and leadership involve- more about our local and worldwide ment among Detroit Jewry's young Jewish community, as well as to have adults. an in-depth Israel experience." The Bloomfield Hills couple have Both James and Nancy Grosfeld established the Grosfeld Leadership serve on the Federation's Board of Program through Governors and its the Millennium executive com- Campaign for mittee and on Detroit's Jewish the United Future. Jewish "With this gift, Foundation Nancy and Jim Board of show their recogni- Directors. tion of the need to James co-chairs nurture and the Federation encourage our next Finance generation of lead- Department's ers," said Penny investment corn- Blumenstein, mittee. He also is Jewish Federation on the National of Metropolitan Commission of Detroit president. the Anti- The Grosfeld Defamation Leadership League and Program is part of chairs several the Millennium committees. The Campaign's Jewish retired chairman Life Fund, a series of Pulte Homes, of specially desig- he is a private James and Nancy Grosfeld nated and named investor who donor funds under serves on various auspices of the Federation and its real boards of directors. estate-banking arm, the United Jewish Nancy is a vice president of the Foundation. Federation Women's Campaign and The program will enable young Education Department and serves as adults with leadership potential to par- its Campaign chair. She is an ex-officio ticipate in an Israel-overseas experience member of the Federation officers program that features both a pre- and a group. She also is a board member of post-educational component. The pro- Jewish Association for Residential gram will focus on leadership develop- Care. She was president of the ment, community involvement, Jewish Michigan Humane Society for 10 years history and Jewish identity. and now serves on its executive com- "The future of our Jewish communi- mittee. ty is very important to Jimmy and me," The Grosfelds are Temple Beth El said Nancy Grosfeld. "It is our hope members. Their children are Rachel that, through our Millennium Fund, Kukes of Birmingham and Jason we can attract and cultivate a group of Grosfeld of New York. Music Fest Features Lebenbom Piece La Journee, a musical piece for English horn and piano composed by Elaine Lebenbom of Bloomfield Township, will be performed on Tuesday, June 26, and Wednesday, June 27, at Temple Beth El during the Great Lakes Music Festival. The performance, featuring pianist Robert Conway and first chair oboist Donald Baker both of the Detroit Symphony, will be the first time the festival has featured a work by a Michigan woman composer. Lebenbom, who has a master's degree in composition from the University of Michigan, has had her work performed by the Detroit Symphony as well as performances by choral groups in the New York area.