Mayor James D. Griffin Fund
for CJD Research
Dent Neuroscience Research Center |
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Dear friends and neighbors,
Earlier this year, on May 25, 2008, our father, the former Mayor of Buffalo, James D. Griffin, died after a three-month illness. At that time, the cause of death was suspected to be a rare, fatal neurological disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease(CJD). Due to the rapid progression of this disease, its rarity, and the diagnostic tests needed to receive confirmation, we could not confirm and therefore did not disclose our father’s suspected cause of death.
Recently, with the help of the Pierluigi Gambetti, M.D., Medical Director of the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center at Case Western University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio and supported locally by Dr. Laszlo Mechtler of the Dent Neurological Institute, we have received confirmation that our father died of the sporadic form of CJD.
CJD is a rare, degenerative brain disease that is always fatal. Most estimate that CJD affects approximately one in one million people per year. Other researchers believe that many cases of CJD go undetected due to the lack of awareness and the difficulty with diagnosis. In any event, there is currently no accepted treatment available for those stricken with CJD.
We are disclosing this at this time for three reasons:
CJD Awareness Day
First, we wish to bring awareness to this deadly, relatively unknown and devastating disease. Today, November 12, 2008, many organizations around the world are recognizing International CJD Awareness Day. Some support groups have designated this as CJD Awareness Week. Since this is a one-in-a-million disease, little is known about CJD by the general public and as well as many health care professionals. While our father received wonderful care from many health care professionals during his illness, we learned first hand that more awareness is needed and support systems developed to help patients stricken by CJD, their families and their caregivers. This disease has very deceptive symptoms. It progresses with alarming speed. It is likely that many cases of CJD go undetected. We hope that more awareness will bring better support over time.
Secondly, in addition to awareness and support, research to help with early detection, treatment, and ultimately a cure for CJD and other forms of dementia is badly needed. To help with this, we have established the James D. Griffin Fund for CJD research at the Dent Neuroscience Research Center. We have made a family grant in order to establish this fund. We will work to support this continued funding in the future. If individuals or organizations would like to support this effort, you can do so through the Mayor James D. Griffin Fund for CJD Research at the Dent Neuroscience Research Center, Dent Tower, 3980 Sheridan Drive, Amherst, NY 14226.
Thank you Buffalo and Western New York
Thirdly, this gives us another opportunity to thank the many people who supported us through this difficult time. On behalf of our mother and our entire family, we would like to thank the many people in the Western New York community who have been so supportive during this very difficult time. Friends and neighbors have offered prayers, shared beautiful stories and offered other generous gestures of support to show their love for our father. Some, who had never met our father, joined in support because they admired our father for his service and accomplishments. We are grateful for it all. We are so proud that our community loved our father as much as we did.
We would specifically like to thank everyone at Father Baker Manor including Dr. Elizabeth Love, Sister Jean Klimczak and all the nurses and aides who helped us care for our father before his passing. All of us benefited from their care and spiritual guidance.
We would like to thank our father’s dear friend Ron Anthony for his friendship for many years, but also for his love and support during the past several months. Everyone should have a friend like Ron Anthony.
We thank the City of Buffalo, Mayor Byron Brown, The Buffalo and Lackawanna Police departments, the Erie County Sheriff’s department, the Buffalo Fire Department, the United States Army, 82nd Airborne and the many other departments, officials and clergy who have paid tribute to our father.
We thank the Rich family, Mike Buczkowski and the The Buffalo Bisons. The Bisons have paid tribute to our father on game days twice since his death and will honor him for years to come with their new address, 1 James D. Griffin Plaza. We look forward to being there on opening day in 2009, at the ball field he loved, now with an address that honors him.
Recently, under the leadership of ECC President Jack Quinn, a James D. Griffin scholarship was established to mark the occasion that would have been his 50th reunion from Erie County Technical Institute. We thank Jack Quinn and all those at ECC who will participate in this enduring honor.
Our father loved this community and you continue to show us why.
May God bless all of you for supporting us, for loving our father and for making our community great.
Again, in honor of our father and in recognition of CJD awareness day, please consider joining us in supporting the Mayor James D. Griffin Fund for CJD research.
Many thanks,
Maureen (Griffin) Tomczak
Megan Griffin
Thomas Griffin
SEND DONATIONS TO:
Dent Neuroscience Research Center
c/o Mayor James D. Griffin Fund for CJD Research
3980 Sheridan Drive
Suite B
Amherst, NY 14226
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR CREDIT CARDS DONATIONS CONTACT:
Maria Caserta
mcaserta@dentinstitute.com
716-250-2000
www.dentinstitute.com
www.cjdfoundation.org
www.cjdvoice.org
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