Portofino Salon
c/o Elaine Wolf
2559 Livernois Road
Troy, MI 48083

or donate online via PayPal:

For information on donating items to the silent and live auction, please contact Kris Bargy at (248) 645-1118 or via e-mail by clicking here.

For questions or additional information, please contact Elaine Wolf at (248) 362-0180 or via e-mail at:

     Neurofibromatosis is a hereditary disease. The disease is an overgrowth of nerve endings that develop into tumors. These tumors can be external and develop anywhere in the body, or they can be internal and develop on the organs inside the body.
     In 1980, there was a movie called "The Elephant Man". This movie showed how physically deforming this disease can be if left unchecked.
     My son Mike was diagnosed as carrying this gene at the age of 16. It has been a constant battle to keep the tumors in check. They must be surgically removed as they develop. We were told at the time, that this only affects the males in the family. We later found out that this was false information, as three of Mike's four little girls have the more serious type of this horrible disease that affects their organs. All three little girls have tumors at the base of the brain attached to their brain stems. These tumors are in-operable. They have tumors on the spine, on their kidneys, and various other places. Gabrielle (Gabby) who is seven, also has a tumor behind her left eye that is attached to the optic eye nerve. This tumor is also in-operable and is causing her to lose her sight. She has been receiving chemo treatments on and off since she was three.
     Heather (Happy) is now five, and Kaitlynne (K.K.), the smallest girl, just turned three. K.K. should start with chemo soon, as her tumors have grown significantly in just a short time.
     At the moment, Gabby and Heather are back in school and doing well in their "special needs" classes. Gabby misses a lot of school and the school has been very flexible with her. Occasionally she has to be home schooled. We never know when the next relapse might occur. It is more often than we like. In August 2004, Gabby spent more than four weeks in the hospital. She had developed a staph infection in her stomach where her shunt was draining. It was touch and go for weeks, but she finally made it though.
     All three girls have speech difficulties due to the tumors, and receive speech therapy. It is sometimes difficult to understand them, but they understand each other perfectly and talk to each other constantly. The girls have grown up with more than their share of physical pain, but their attitudes and love of life is remarkable.
     The financial needs for this family of six, has far surpassed what their parents Mike and Noel can supply. Mike had a massive heart attack in August 2004 which left him with only 39% of heart function. They desperately need help, not only for medical bills, but also for special schooling and everyday life needs. We need help to help them just to survive everyday life, to give these girls as normal a life as possible.

Please help...

Sincerely,
Sherry Denison (Gramma)
(Sherry is the sister of Kathy Kelly and Kris Bargy at New You Salon.)

Portofino Salon, Changez Salon & New You Salon would like to extend a very special thanks to the following individuals who have been a great help with this event: (in no particular order)

John Michalak of the Daily Tribune for his wonderful front page article on March 13th, Patti Towne, Daisy Bradley, Pat Capello, Ann Acierno, Judy & Jay Ackerman, Debbie and Brad Anderson, Kate Bargy, Kris & Bob Bargy, Ron & Sharon Bargy, Dan Baumbardt, Sandy & Bob Bean, Donetta Behen, Doris Reed Bland, Joannie & George Bliss, Lindsay & Billy Blonsky, Debbie Bonich, Joyce Buchanan, Eileen Buck, Mark & Kelly Chadwick, Yvonne Chaucherty, Lillian Coleman, Roger & Sally Craig, Amy & Ray Crawford, Laura Cubbler, Suzi Davis, Sherry & Dick Denison, Virginia Dickinson, Julie Diehl, Ann Doman, Donna Dunn, Karin Gary, Nancy & Lou Genta, Bob Grant, Marlene Gregory, Kelly Hurley, Marilyn Holland, Beth Jarvis, Marguerite & Howard Jones, Sandy Isaacs, Tom Keegan, Cain Kelly, Kelly & Kathy Kelly, Barb Kerby, Patrick Keveney, David & Candice Koenig, Joyce Krause, Carli Lintemutz, Dirk & Nikki Loveland, Beth & Greg Maurer, Ann & Jim McClory, Phyllis McKinley, Carl & Alma Memmer, Bret & Catherine Miller, Pat Miller, Teri Poyner, Tony Prossi, Doris Reed, Jason Rice, Peggy & Ray Sands, Katie Senewicz, Jennifer Shackelford, Sherry & Gregory Shargaugh, Cyndi Singelyn, Ken & Gloria Sprenger, Mike & Dani Staff, Estella & Tim Straub, Larry & Jean Sweet, Deanna Thompson, Don Townsend, Barbara Underwood, Sonja & Mike Van Buren, Shelly & John Volpe, Terri Weber, Angell Wolber, Elaine Wolf, Linda Papelian, Sandi Burton, Andrea Brown, Zola Webster, Regina Forbes, Shirley Nitz, Pamela Neubacher, Peter & Alexandra Burton, Diana Boyd, Heather Graustein, Ann Somers, Diana Bianculli, Amy Crawford, Anna Sen, Donna Baker, Jennifer Shackelford, Theresa Brennan, Nancy & Jack Hawkinson, Cindy Percy, Rita Trebble, Carol Caldwell, Priscilla Donegan, Bob & Sandy Bean, Mimi Strek, Joan Miller, Pat Rodgers, Rosanna Castiglione, Margaret Lawrence, Ashton McMillan, Ruth Parish, Lin & Rob Rich Janita Gaulzetti, Michael Meinzinger, Gina Genematas, Lindy & Louis Offer, Gloria Theodorff, Nicole Derrik, Nancy Seach, Karen Volkenheim, Wm. & Theresa Shook, Melly Forward, Tom & Liz Hetch, David & Candace Konig, Eileen Kelly, Stan & Joy Ainsley, Andrea & Patrick Brown, Rosalyn Shaltz, Eric & Cari Yankee, Frank & Joyce Ferfecki, Eugenia Florek, Delphine O'Brian, Wm. & Deanna Kicsinski-Collins, Al & Gina Cotter, Joseph & Patricia Burtkam, Jacquline Ross, Sandra Branch, Tillie Nelson, Tom Murrel, Else Lievois, Butch & Emilia Yankee, June Yankee, Gilbert & Ginny Yankee, Iris Parlaneli, Dawn Jehle, Kelly Craig, Maude Rice, Deborah Diers, Sarah Gleason, Jenny Roszel, Barb Meissner, Theresa Martusiewicz Japar, Jan Ollila, Kami Bacher, Allison Maurer, Doris Reed-Arbonne, Baldemar Reyes, Sharon & Freddie DeCoopman, Lloyd & Jan Welch, Jennifer & Adam Welch, Mary Ellen Dohrs, June L. Smitterberg, Jerry & Karen Adams, Mark E. Morley, Dawn Steffan, Maueeen Walsh, Jim & Kaye Walsh, Randy & Kathy Albright, Sue Watkins, Mary McKee Distefano, Jackie Cameron, Desmond & Kim Orr, Barb & Ernie Krozek, Lewdowski Family, Tammy Azarias, Bambi Chick, Stunck Family, Larisa Zohornski, Denise Masterson, Cecile Vallero, Carol Litnianski.