AROUND TOWN

Gael Tyner, center, of Bloomfield Hills is flanked by Kathy Finkel and Marla

Monni and Joel Must flank daughters Sabrina, Miya (in photo), Kacee and Britni, all

Rosman, both of West Bloomfield

of Bloomfield Hills

Healthy Body Healthy Mind

Thought provoking Kadima fundraiser honors young woman's memory.

A

s a child, Miya Must was diagnosed
with Bipolar disorder, defined by the
National Institutes of Mental Health as a
treatable manic-depressive illness causing unusual
shifts in a person's mood, energy and ability to
function. It affects 5.7 million Americans. While
Must struggled with the illness and tragically took
her own life last November
at the age of 28, her sis-
ter, Sabrina Must of
Bloomfield Hills, lovingly
remembers Miya as some-
one who was uninhibited
and productive.
"Doctors hospitals and
meds were constantly
coming in and out of the
picture
for years," Sabrina
Robin Schwartz
told
a
crowd
of about 300
Columnist
people at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek Southfield.
"But as she transitioned into becoming a well-
rounded woman, she became whole, balanced and
accomplished:"
Sabrina shared her sister's story April 3 during a
"Healthy Body Healthy Mind" fundraiser in Miya's
memory sponsored by their parents, Monni and
Joel Must of Bloomfield Hills, benefiting the
Southfield-based mental health agency Kadima.
The luncheon also featured nutrition expert,
author and TV host Zona Foco who spoke about
healthy eating and living a more stress-free life.
The event raised about $20,000 for the Mark/Lis
Family Philanthropic Fund.
"Bipolar disorder is typically seen as a negative,
but for Miya it was what made her her:' Sabrina

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April 10 • 2008

Must said. "Even though she lived life in extremes,
she learned how to redirect those characteristic
`Bipolar tendencies' and make them positive influ-
ences."
Miya graduated from Western State College
of Colorado, pursed yoga and was married. Her
family says her suicide was the last thing they
expected.
"Did Miya conquer being Bipolar because Miya
was Miya? Or was it because of all of her treat-
ment, which taught her how to own her illness?"
Sabrina Must wondered aloud. "I don't really
know. But, our family realizes that such a feat is
very uncommon. Most people don't have the com-
passion for themselves or others to face it head on.
It didn't make Miya better than anyone else who
struggles with mental illness. It only made prepar-
ing for the future easier, because she and we knew
and hoped she had it in her to become healthy in
body and mind:'
Spotted in the crowd were: Terri Koyan. of
Franklin; Ellen Bean and Valerie Shulman,
both of Birmingham; Cheryl Kirsch, Elaine
Raznick, Mindy and Bruce Ruben, Jo Anne
Nosan and Carol Fogel, all of West Bloomfield;
Julie Zussman of Huntington Woods; Sarah
Fink of Commerce Township; Julie Stulberg
of Waterford; Judy Etkin of Farmington Hills;
and Susie Pappas and Ellen Sherman, both of
Bloomfield Hills.

Julie Stulberg of
Waterford, Erin

Brockhaus of
Birmingham and

Lindsay Rubin

of Bloomfield

Natalie Newman and Nancy
Simons, both of West Bloomfield

Sue Lutz and Candi Sherman,

Carolyn Krieger-Cohen of West

Laura Adler of West Bloomfield

Bloomfield and Sabrina Must of

and Zonya Foco R.D. of Onsted

both of West Bloomfield

❑

Kadima offers therapy, employment servic-
es, 21 residential homes and other support
for people living with mental illness. For
more information, call (248) 559-8235 or
go to the Web site: www.KadimaCenter.org .

Bloomfield Hills

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