C R Y D E R P O I N T JANUARY 14 CRPS, short for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, is probably a condition that you’ve never heard of. The Mayo Clinic explains that CRPS “typically develops after an injury, surgery, stroke or heart attack, but CRPS: A Personal Cryder Point Story the pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury.” Symptoms can include continuous burning or throbbing pain, usually in your arm, leg, hand or foot; sensitivity to touch or cold; or swelling of the painful area. The pain is continuous and can last for months or even years. Long-time Cryder Point residents, Paul and Marsha Gellert, have learned through personal experience about the syndrome. Their granddaughter, Zoe, is suffering from the condition after a foot injury that occurred at her school. Zoe’s just 12 years old but is showing adult fortitude in dealing with her condition and working to educate people about the syndrome. Below is a letter written by Zoe, in which she shares her experience and offers information on how to find out more. Thanks go to Paul and Marsha for bringing this to the newspaper and, 14 CRYDER POINT COURIER | JANUARY 2017 | WWW.QNS.COM more important, thanks to Zoe for her great determination. On behalf of everyone at Cryder, we wish her the very best. ************** Hi, Most of you know that I have a syndrome called CRPS. I have been in constant pain since my injury. Watching the testimonial video we have created will hopefully help all of you better understand CRPS. This video is part of my Bat Mitzvah project. My goal is to raise money to be able to donate to kids that have CRPS and are not able to pay for their own doctors’ appointments. I will also be making pamphlets about CRPS for school nurses and pediatric doctors to raise awareness for early diagnosis of this syndrome. CRPS is a very challenging syndrome to live with. And I would know. My experiences with this syndrome have been tough but I am learning to cope with my daily pain. I know that I’m only 12 but I believe that the more people that are educated about CRPS the easier it will be for other kids that are going through the same thing that I am going through. You can view the video and make tax deductible donations at my GoFundMe site: https://www. gofundme.com/zoes-heroes-a-crpscollaborative. Also, please post on your Facebook page and like us on Instagram @zoesheroes--social media is a great way to spread the word. You can email me at zoesheroes@ icloud.com with any questions or comments that you have. I thank you in advance for your support and donations. Gratefully, Zoe Gellert State Senator Tony Avella has his sights set on Gracie Mansion BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI, QUEENS COURIER The Democratic lawmaker representing Bayside, Flushing, Whitestone, Douglaston and Little Neck announced last month he is throwing his hat into the 2017 mayoral election, challenging incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio in the primary. Avella previously ran for mayor in 2009 but lost the primary to then- City Comptroller Bill Thompson. Avella formally announced his entry into next year’s race with a press conference on Dec. 18 in front of the Holiday Inn Express in Maspeth — a site where homeless men are being housed under the mayor’s current homeless housing plan; in August, the state senator led one in a series of protests against the plan. “I believe we have reached a crossroad in the direction our city should be taking,” Avella said. “Under Mayor de Blasio we have more homeless than ever — our taxes continue to rise and it is more expensive to live here than ever before, all of this, while our quality of life fades away.” The state senator cited political corruption, city cost of living and the current state of homelessness as top concerns. “It is time to stop dumping homeless families and individuals in hotels and motels throughout the city without support services and the prospect of stable long-term housing and without community notification or involvement,” Avella said. Avella also demanded an end to what he described as a “financial assault” on the middle class and called for a 2% property tax cap and “real affordable housing.” He also criticized de Blasio’s traffic control policies, including the “narrow-minded anti-motorist” bike lanes and pedestrian plazas recently installed, which he said “do little to increase pedestrian safety.” “It is time to stop the failed top down planning approach in this city and allow every neighborhood — every resident to have a voice — a real say in what happens in their community,” Avella said. This past November, Avella won re-election to the 11th state Senate district — a seat he has held since 2010. Prior to that, he served in the City Council. Zoe with Grandparents Marsha and Paul Gellert Photo courtesy of Marsha Gellert Tony Avella announced run for Mayor on December 18. Photo by Walter Karling
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