64 | SEPTEMBER 12 • 2024 

Reliable Drivers

Best Rates!

AIRPORT | APPOINTMENTS
ERRANDS | SHOPPING | & MORE!

Call/Text David 248.210.7710 or 

248.690.6090 or Email david@reliable.ws

24/7 AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION

64 | SEPTEMBER 12 • 2024 

The 
Bulletin 
Board

Tay-Sachs Awareness Month: 
Prioritize Your Health 
with Jscreen

Shari Ungerleider from New York and Myra Sack 
from Boston have one thing in common: They 
both lost a child to Tay-Sachs disease. It is hard 
to believe that, after all these years, babies are still 
born with Tay-Sachs and other devastating genetic 
diseases. 
 The challenge is ensuring that future families 
don’t have to suffer. The solution is simple: accu-
rate, comprehensive genetic screening and person-
alized genetic counseling for prospective parents.
Both Myra and Shari are vocal advocates of 
genetic screening. They have teamed up with 
Jscreen, a national nonprofit public health ini-
tiative dedicated to preventing Jewish and other 
genetic diseases and educating communities about 
the importance of preconception genetic testing. 
This September (Tay-Sachs Awareness Month 
and Rosh Hashanah), Jscreen will raise awareness 
about genetic screening so that every family can 
plan for a happy new year and a healthy future.
Jscreen makes genetic testing simple, accessible 
and affordable by offering easy-to-use at-home 
saliva test kits. The Jscreen Reproductive Carrier 
Screen gives prospective parents a deep under-
standing of their risk of having a child with a 
genetic disease. 
Designed for individuals between 18-45, it tests 
for over 200 genetic diseases, including Tay-Sachs 
and other diseases commonly found in the Jewish 
population as well as diseases common in other 
groups. If a carrier couple is identified, Jscreen 
provides them with telehealth genetic counseling 
to discuss their results and options available for 
family planning.
Tay-Sachs disease is a rare, inherited genet-

ic disease mainly affecting infants and young 
children. Tay-Sachs is caused by absence of the 
enzyme HexA, which causes excessive accumu-
lation of specific lipids in the brain and nerve 
cells, resulting in progressive neurological dam-
age. Babies born with Tay-Sachs disease usually 
develop normally for the first few months, but as 
the disease progresses, they begin to regress. The 
children become blind and deaf, suffer from sei-
zures and have respiratory issues. Children with 
Tay-Sachs often die before the age of 5.
There is no cure for Tay-Sachs disease, but 
genetic testing and counseling allow people to 
determine if they have an increased risk of having 
a child with the disease. 
“
A simple, at-home saliva test can really help 
families avoid heartbreak. Jscreen is there every 
step of the way to provide information about Tay-
Sachs and other diseases, and to help prospective 
parents make decisions about the future of their 
families,
” explains Karen Arnovitz Grinzaid, exec-
utive director of Jscreen. 

Myra Sack and Matthew Goldstein 
with their late daughter, Havi

SPOTLIGHT

Gesher Human Services, one of the largest human 
service agencies in Metro Detroit that also pro-
vides financial education, will be offering a free 
webinar called the Marriage Money Masterplan at 
1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13. 
Approximately one in four marriages end 
because of conflict due to finances, according to 
the Jimenez Law Firm. The 2024 Fidelity Couples 
and Money Study found that more than a quar-
ter of partners felt resentful for being left out of 
financial decisions and more than half can’t agree 
on how much money they need to save for retire-
ment. 
This workshop will help married couples, along 

with those who are engaged or in a long-term 
relationship, learn the importance of managing 
money, budgeting, saving and investing together. 
It will also cover topics such as adopting similar 
parenting money styles when making financial 
decisions for children, open communication, 
financial goals, income and expenses, and finan-
cial infidelity. To register, go to geshermi.org/
events.
“Talking about money is not the easiest, but 
developing strategies for finances as a couple 
can only make your relationship stronger,
” said 
Gesher’s financial education manager, Laltsha 
Cunningham. 

Free Virtual Workshop to Promote Financial 
Harmony Among Michigan Couples

LOOKING FOR A 
DRIVER AND COMPANION? 

Retired medical assistant seeking 
employment helping individuals with 
rides to appointments, shopping or other 
needed activities. Having worked in the 
medical profession for 45 years, I assure 
you a loving and caring experience. 

CALL SHERI 248-568-9212

A CAREGIVER /COMPANION
offering part time, full time or 24 
hours care with light house keeping. 
Available for transportation to 
Doctors appointments, shopping, 
errands, airport and more. 

EXCELLENT REFERENCES!
 (248) 270-1226

MAX THE HANDYMAN

248-356-0114

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