Take the Lead
Testimonials Continued FROM page 58
Lou & Adelene Pardo
M
y husband Lou and I would like to thank “Take The Lead” for the assistance they provided us while I was battling Sarcoma Cancer. When we were younger, Lou had a very good job working for the Federal Government as a MSC Investigator. Federal Blue Cross & Blue Shield is one of the highest rated Insurance that any family can have for medical coverage. We thought that it along with Medicare we would never be in need of any other assistance. We were wrong! As my recovery went slower and slower we knew we would never be able to afford the costs of the Rehabilitation Hospital that was necessary for my possibility of ever walking again. Take the Lead provided the funds to supplement our dwindling insurance caps and kept me in the Rehabilitation Hospital. Through their generosity I can now walk short distances without assistance and expect a full recovery eventually. We and our clubs have always supported Take the Lead as a wonderful and well needed charity organization. As a former handler and current Judge we gave willingly and never expected to need their financial help. Thank you Take The Lead for the service your organization provides for the people who love dogs.
Cathy De La Garza
I
cannot begin to tell you what Take the Lead has done for members of our club. It is a wonderfully managed charity that has a dedicated leadership. The Galveston Club has donated money to it almost yearly and it was money well spent. One of our members had the very best Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, and an additional insurance policy for any kind of home care or assisted living care. She was helped by Take the Lead to pay for additional time in a Rehabilitation Hospital after all the aforementioned funds ran out. With medical costs now any serious illness or accident can run into millions. Their contribution helped her continue to receive the correct rehab so that she doesn’t have to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. The second members needed help paying for Alzheimer’s drugs and electricity costs. They were helped by TTL so that she could keep her husband home as long as possible. I hope that your club looks into TTL. I give a personal donation to them at our show and at Eukanuba.
78 Dog News
Cathy Jahelka
I
n 2010 I was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer, stage 3C. As if dealing with that kind of life threatening diagnosis and facing major surgery and subsequent treatment wasn’t scary enough, I am selfemployed with no disability benefits, so I knew I would not be able to pay my rent and bills while I was recuperating and going through chemotherapy. In addition to being a professional dog trainer, I have been raising, training and showing German Shepherds in obedience, rally, herding & dabbling in conformation as a sport and hobby my entire life. I was born into this, as my family’s hobby had always been dog sports – training and showing GSDs long before I even existed. Upon learning of my situation, several friends recommended that I contact Take The Lead. I did just that, and following a short approval process, with the help of Take The Lead, I no longer had to worry or be concerned about my living expenses during treatment. Because of the relief Take the Lead provided me, I was able to focus all of my attention on my recovery. I really don’t know how I could have gotten through it all without this wonderful organization and the peace of mind they gave me. Today I am in remission and back to training and competing with my dogs. Recently I learned I have qualified along with my German Shepherd in Utility for the AKC Obedience Classic in Orlando, Florida. Of course just qualifying for the classic is a dream come true, but because Take the Lead picked up the slack in my lead when I couldn’t, I am now healthy and looking forward to a fantastic road trip from California to Orlando in December. I remain ever so grateful to an amazing organization! Continued on page 84