Betty Power. com

10/23/2010

Sweet Relief Helping To Raise Money for Singer/Songwriter Rebecca Simone

The Rebecca Simone Fund at Sweet Relief

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is partnering with Rebecca Simone’s family, friends and fellow members of the music industry to assist in raising funds for urgent medical expenses. Key organizers include; Al Cafaro, former CEO of A&M Records and Alex Vitoulis, Associate Chart Production Manager at Billboard Magazine.

In early 2006 Rebecca was preparing to release her debut album in conjunction with Metro Hybrid Recording and Sony RED distribution. On the evening of May 9th, she collapsed, lost consciousness and was rushed to the ER. She was diagnosed as having had a stroke, caused by a very rare degenerative disease called Moyamoya, which restricts blood flow to the brain.

Rebecca was left with a range of physical, emotional and cognitive deficits. She was partially paralyzed, unable to walk and, even more devastating for her, was left unable to write. She could not play any of her instruments and was told not to sing as it could cause another stroke. She had difficulties using and understanding language. She has also been left with chronic pain from debilitating headaches.

In September of 2006 Rebecca underwent a thirteen hour brain surgery at UCLA Medical Center. The surgeon took an artery from Rebecca's scalp, removed a section of her skull and laid the artery onto her brain.

Rebecca has suffered at least five more major strokes and countless TIAs (mini-strokes) since her surgery. This has worsened her condition and put her back in her recovery. She can no longer take care of her daily tasks and needs constant assistance from a caregiver.

Over the past four years, Rebecca has spent everything she has ever earned or saved paying for her own medical care. Her medical expenses are exorbitant, despite having had a full health insurance policy at the time of her illness.

Our aim is to raise funds to help pay for life saving treatment, provide essential home care, assist with the cost of rehabilitation and to help Rebecca with her living expenses during the 18 to 24 months during which she will be undergoing treatment and rehabilitating. Our current fundraising goal is $600,000.

The costs include:

• Caregiver $62,500 (not 24 hour, just five 8 hour days per week)
• Specialized Vehicle $20,000
• Braces, walkers and other mobility equipment $25,000
• Surgeries not covered by insurance $60, 000 - $120, 000
• Medical copays $24,000
• Rehab services not covered by insurance $275, 000
• Medication copays $8,000
• Ins. premium & Deductibles $7,000
• Biofeedback for pain $12,500
• Home Modifications for access and mobility $6,000
• Travel to and from Stanford for follow ups (approx 9 trips in the time period) $27,000
Donations can be made using the “Chip In” widget on this page or either of the sites listed below.

Recurring donations can be set up monthly, quarterly or yearly in varying amounts by visiting the donations page on the Sweet Relief web site (www.sweetrelief.org) and selecting “Rebecca Simone / Betty Power” under the Program Designation menu.

Checks or Money orders may be sent to:

Sweet Relief / Rebecca Simone Fund
4952 Warner Avenue, Suite 235
Huntington Beach, CA 92649

If you wish to create an event or fundraiser to assist Rebecca Simone, please call us or email:

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund

Tel: 714-846-3030
Email: info@sweetrelief.org

About Rebecca:

Rebecca has been performing and writing music since her childhood; her first paying gig was at age 9. Throughout her high school and college years, she made a reputation for herself as a performer and songwriter throughout the New England region. Her final destination was Los Angeles, where she quickly built a network of collaborators and began work on her debut album. While on the road, she learned that she was to be the first unsigned artist to be featured in Billboard Magazine's “New and Noteworthy” section. She has also had one of her songs as a featured track on the CW's hit show “Summerland” and her song “Prove Me Right” sold out 30,000 copies in four weeks on when it was made available on a Target exclusive compilation. Before suffering her 2006 stroke, Rebecca was playing extensively in the Southern California region with her band, Betty Power and was in negotiations with Billboard magazine once more, this time to be showcased in their newly created performance series “Billboard Underground”.

Before falling ill, Rebecca was heavily involved in charitable causes, raising money for Step Up Women, Women In Music and Musicares; she was a regular speaker on community panels covering both drug & alcohol abuse and safe sex and also donated her time to tutor students suffering serious illnesses who couldn’t attend school. Rebecca has helped so many and her future remains so bright, but she is in a battle that she cannot fight alone. Please help.

One time donations can be made using the “Chip In” widget on this page or either of the sites listed below. Recurring donations can be set up monthly, quarterly or yearly in varying amounts by visiting the donations page on the Sweet Relief web site (www.sweetrelief.org) and selecting “Rebecca Simone / Betty Power” under the Program Designation menu.

For more information on Rebecca, her condition and her music visit the following websites:

http://rebeccasrecovery.webs.com/
http://www.bettypower.com/

7/13/2010

MEDICAL DRAMA! (ALWAYS, THE DRAMA...)

IF y'all are wondering where we've been? Well, we have, too.

It's complicated and then it really isn't. See, Bee had a stroke before a show in Hollywood in May of 2006. She was in the hospital for a week, then was diagnosed with Moyamoya Disease. She had brain surgery at UCLA in September of that year and then suffered several more strokes thereafter.

Since then, she has been on a hardcore road to recovery. At the moment she is prepping for a second surgery and despite the many setbacks she's faced, she is ready to take on the world. Again. Still.

2010 is, so far, been about prepping for her second headtrip and also about connecting with her friends and loved ones to let them know what has been going on.

We've made a Documentary of the Process from Almost Rock Star to ... Professional Patient ... Along the way, some Freaky stuff has happened.

Also, a lot of things are happening right now to make the recovery process a smooth ride. B's got some great friends ... and amazing family. She has some amazing Friends In High Places and They're all coming together to see what they can do to help her get better using every resource available.

For Bee personally, having gone from the quintessential Independent Woman to Sole Soul Survivor, a lonely place most of us couldn't possibly imagine -and maybe, if we are honest with ourselves, much less walk, this year is about bringing all the pieces together again, and about rediscovering herself now, and as she begins to truly walk again on the road to wellness.

We feel blessed that she's been given this second shot at a life outside the medical world but she is not out of the water yet.

Please stay tuned for more information. AND THANKS FOR UR LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:

www.moyamoya.com
www.moyamoya.net
rebeccasrecovery.webs.com