Against All Odds, Couple Finds Joy

When you pitch stories like these and the journalist gets it, there's no better feeling. Knew as soon as I spoke with the couple on Monday night, that they would be great!

SUFFERN, N.Y. — He helps her put on her coat, opens the door for her, and cooks their meals almost every night. She does the dishes, makes his favorite cheesecake from scratch, and suffers watching wrestling on television only because he loves it.

Michael and Laurie Zeilberger, both 51, have been married 17 years and recently passed a big milestone in their lives — they paid off the mortgage on their one-bedroom condo. Both have held stable jobs for more than two decades and he has nursed her through poor health.

Such a loving and durable marriage would be an accomplishment for many couples. It’s especially remarkable for the Zeilbergers because both have learning disabilities.

“We want to be married like other people are married for 50, 60 years,” said Laurie. “It may be harder for us but we want to try.”

Spirited Woman Battles Illness

A wonderful column from Bob Baird the Journal News about a woman we serve through our Rockland County Association for the Learning Disabled, a member of the YAI/NIPD Network. Her battle with advanced colon cancer and the staff's efforts to make sure she remains active and productive are inspiring.

Geraldine DePaola, who has spent most of her life in Letchworth Village and community residences, has turned a new hobby into a small business while battling advanced colon cancer.
It's only a few months ago that DePaola started spending hours at the table where she and five other women, all in their 50s or 60s, have their meals.
Recovering from surgery, she needed something to pass the hours.
"I used to play cards all the time," she says, adding that her game of choice was War.
But once she started stringing brightly colored plastic beads onto lanyards, she put away the cards for good. Soon, she was adding hooks, creating colorful necklaces and bracelets - first for the other women who live at her group home in Hillcrest, operated by the Rockland County Association for the Learning Disabled, and more recently for a wider client base.