Skygirl was an active and treasured member of our community after she quit in 2012. If you want to get a glimpse into her experience, you might read her early blogs. She wrote some EXcellent ones. She embraced the lemon as her quit aid more actively than anyone I have seen since. A photo of her oft bitten fruit became the stuff of legends. She was the creator of the "Paper Plate Awards" given at the site get togethers, and a guiding force initially for those gatherings.
Since March of 2017, Skygirl (Nancy)'s husband, Jeff, has been General Manager of the Rockaway Beach Resort, a homeowners association of condominiums. They lived in Cape Meares for ten years and bought a home in Rockaway Beach to be closer to Jeff’s job about three years ago.. As a former retail site, it needed a lot of modifications! In March, 2019, during the middle of working on the house, Jeff was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is always fatal. Life expectancy is usually two to five years.
Despite the devastating news, Jeff and Nancy have strived to keep life as normal as possible. Jeff started treatment that is hoped to slow progression of the disease. As his disease progressed, Nancy took a long leave from her job as a flight attendant to be home, caring for Jeff. Ultimately she was furloughed from United Airlines because of COVID-19. She began working at the Resort to assist Jeff.
Work eventually came to a complete stop on the house, as Jeff’s disease progressed. Currently, the “kitchen” has only a few tables used as countertops and a laundry sink.
At the end of October, Jeff and Nancy were let go by the brand-new president of the Resort Board. Jeff has applied for Social Security disability, but has been told that, even if it is fast-tracked, it will be 5-6 months before any payments are received. Nancy needs to provide his care, so she is not able to work.
A resident of Rockaway has created a GoFundMe page for them. If you have not already been contacted and wish to support them, let me know and I will send you a link. Any and all help will be most appreciated.
While we were both active, I became "The Other" Nancy, so I will end this with that as my tip of the hat to her.
"The Other" Nancy
