AOL EmailThank you Jude for your oh so gentle words in delivering this very sad news. Much like Jude, Pam and I had grown very close over the years. We spoke on the phone at least every other day. This is why Jude and I were concerned about Pam, as she had not called, and that was not like her. We both tried calling Dan and the phone was never answered. Naturally we thought she was in the hospital. As you know Jude finally reached him today and called me. I will be very honest - I sobbed - and sobbed - and I'm sorry Jude that you were on the receiving end of that.
I was able to reach Dan and we talked for almost an hour. My heart goes out to him and the entire family. I believe Dan is still in shock, but their son is arriving tomorrow and I know what a comfort this will be. Their son, his wife, and Pam's 4 grandchildren were to arrive July 15th for a visit. Pam was so looking forward to seeing all of them as it has been a year since the last visit. I asked Dan if I could share with our TM family what he told me. Yes, of course. Yesterday when Dan was at the hospital with Pam, she said something must be wrong with the oxygen as she was having some trouble breathing. She also told Dan that she was paralyzed everywhere. He thought the medications had her confused, but did have the nurses check her again. Dan said it was not long after that that Pam became unresponsive. Although he has not been given a definite cause of death, the doctors feel a blood clot was responsible. I would like to share a very sweet poem that Pam sent to me on May 27 after a tragedy struck my family. My sister lost her youngest son 3 years ago in May, and then 10 days ago, she lost her oldest son, both from heart conditions. Here is Pam's poem: I KNOW TODAY MUST BE VERY HARD PLEASE DO NOT OVER DO TRY TO BE CALM I KNOW YOU WILL CRY YOUR HEART OUT THAT'S A NORMAL THING TO DO YOU STILL WILL HAVE YOUR MEMORIES NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU! Pam and I often said how how blessed we were to be a part of this very special TM family where we share so much with each other. I will miss you my dear friend and will keep you close to my heart always. love to all, Linda (Cherpeski) ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ; [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ; [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 7:14 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC]ABOUT PAM MONTZ......PLEASE READ THIS... IT IS FOR REAL This message goes out to Todd and all of my dearest TM friends. On Saturday afternoon, our dear Pam Montz passed away in the hospital. She had been complaining to me about her shoulder and arm pain for over a week. I believe it was her left arm, but I am not sure. I don't even know what to write. I have no details at this time. Linda Cherpenski is calling Dan to see what is going on and will let us know either by phone or email. One of us will get back to you. Pam and I were extremely close. She called me every single day just to check on me and chat. We exchanged friendship gifts, matching earrings, which I will never wear again or I will put them on and never take them off. Which one should I do??? I want to take this time to tell you that each and every one of you is dear to me. Your names, pictures and emails are etched onto my heart and I will carry them with me forever. Pam is in the wings of the Angels, on her way to the Promised Land in the world of Jesus Christ. I know that she is Catholic. I would like to begin a fund for TM research in her name. Where do I begin??? How much can we raise in her name??? I hope that you will all be as generous as possible. I will begin the donation with $300.00. Who will either match me, do me better, or simply send what you can??? When you make your donation make it out to: The Pamela Montz Foundation for Transverse Myelitis Research and I will discuss with Jim Lubin about the best way to handle the donations. One of us will get back to the List. As "Tiny Tim" once said, "God Bless Us Everyone" Love, Jude In a message dated 6/7/2009 3:42:28 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Thank you, Janice, for this topic. I was a accountant clerk. I had made the third layoffs of my company, leaving me to be the last accountant clerk for two companies. I had two wonderful bosses and worked 15 mins from home. TM hit me a few weeks before my 38th birthday. After 3 years with TM and it didn't look like I would be returning back to work any time soon. We had been going to Corpus Christi, Texas once a month to see friends and with the gas prices, we decided to retired in CC, TX. Would like to return to work, but how to & keep up the PT at the same time? I too, live on Social Security disability and Long Term disability. Hope everyone is doing what makes them happy right now, Todd in CC, TX TM @ T-4 to T-8 on April 1, 2002 --- On Fri, 6/5/09, Janice <[email protected]> wrote: From: Janice <[email protected]> Subject: [TMIC] Occupations To: "transverse myelitis" <[email protected]> Date: Friday, June 5, 2009, 11:22 AM Hi Guys! I have been curious about something for a while and since things have kind of slowed down, want to ask you all what you did before TM hit and if you were able to go back to it or if you are doing something new. I am including even those who just read these emails and don't usually respond. I would like to hear from everybody and would think all of us would be interested. I will start: I was a school nurse's secretary/assistant in a large high school for 19 years. I absolutely loved it - everyday was different, as you can imagine working with high schoolers! 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