TRIBUTES

Jerilyn DiCostanzo

On October 12, 1971 my sister Jill Sablone was involved in an auto accident that left her brain damaged and blind.  My mother wanted to care for Jill at home, but in those days there were no resources to help.  My mother appealed to Senator Ted Kennedy and he took on my mom's cause and directed her to the Commission for the Blind to fund PCA help for Jill to remain at home.  Senator Kennedy has been there as a resource to us, even remembering my mother by sending a tribute to her upon her death.

It has been 39 years and Jill had thrived because she has been able to stay at home with her family.  Jill's sisters are now in charge of her care and recently had a problem with Jill's PCA hours being cut back by Mass Health.  On August 12, 2009 we received a beautiful letter that had been sent by the Senator's office to the Mass Health Board of Appeals on Jill's behalf.  The compassion and understanding in the letter speaks volumes on why Senator Kennedy is so loved. God Bless you Ted.