Hmmmm? what to do (Spinal Muscular Atrophy)

Picture above(taken from Pontiac Daily Leader)at the former Pontiac Interlake plant with people wanting jobs this morning.
Not sure what they are offering at Mecalux. Rumors have that it is 50% of Interlake Wages. Wages compared to 1978. Too bad the economy is not like it was in 1978.



What to do?
We are supposed to fly out in the morning. I feel like a have a 300 pound sumo wrestler sitting on my chest and my ears feel like I am under water. Allergies ? illness?? I cough like a chain smoking cat(Mj's description). Christen is sick also and Dawn called went home from work with contractions besides she said she feels "strange"

DR Wang has been different to us since Lizzy has been out of the trial. She was his "Star Patient" for a long time. Last visit he was very distant to us and had his interns "take care" of us because he was so BUSY. Here is our Choices: Taking Lizzy off the medicine , have none as back up in case she starts losing strength, go ahead and go miss the possible birth of my six grand-child or just go sick to get away from all the drama in our life this past few weeks. I say "Lets Go" because I can not be around a new baby not knowing if I have sinus drainage or a virus, We can take Lizzy off the HD for two weeks before our next visit and see how she does then from there figure out what the plans will be in the future. I do not want Lizzy coming down with whatever I have if I am contagious . I am taking precautions but geeze Louise I dont want her to be stuck in CA with her sick.
So, what do you do???
Prayers for us on our trip , Dawn, the former Interlake Workers , their families and all the people with out work.
We believe in miracles!!
www.our-sma-angels.com/elizabeth




Article below from the Pontiac Daily Leader today:

By Sheila Shelton
Pontiac Daily Leader
Tue Mar 10, 2009, 12:34 PM CDT



Pontiac, Ill. -
As job-seekers lined up for openings at the former Interlake facility, a demonstration was expected to take place.
Former employees of Interlake Material Handling Co., 2 Industrial Dr., held a demonstration beginning at 10 a.m. today in front of the plant today to show what can happen when a company files bankruptcy.
“We want to bring public awareness to the lack of worker protections in the law when a bankruptcy occurs,” said Ralph Timan, president of UAW Local 2488, which represents workers at the former Interlake plant.
United Fixtures Inc., the parent company of Interlake, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and was sold in bankruptcy court in Delaware last week. The new owner of the facility is Mecalux of Spain.
The more than 200 employees at the Pontiac plant were terminated on Friday. The official sale to Mecalux was expected to take place on Monday and the new owner, Mecalux, announced that it would be taking applications for employees today at the plant.
“The former owners of Interlake used the bankruptcy filing to purge debt owed to suppliers, vacate the union contract and terminate all employees of the company,” said Timan in a press release. “Due to a lack of employee protections in the U.S. Bankruptcy laws, the new owner, Mecalux, is not required by law to offer continued employment to any of the workers at the plant.”
Timan also said that workers did not receive payment for their earned vacation pay, nor did they receive a severance package as negotiated in their union contract.
“Workers and their families face an enormous uncertainty about their future. Further, their community (Pontiac) is impacted by growing joblessness during these challenging times,” said Timan.

Grim Reality for our Future or new beginning? ( Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1)

Picture above is the workers leaving Interlake on their last day.

Lizzy's Papa, my husband for 34 years, father to 4 children lost his job yesterday that he had for over 30 years. Our only financial stability just closed its doors on us. He is an emotional mess not knowing if he will be rehired (at a very much lower rate as offered before the Bankruptcy with him paying 100% of benefits himself). discriminated against due to his diabetes or his age. Now, he has no teeth due to a severe infection. He hopes to get teeth soon but what do you do pay the house payment and utility bills or pay for dentures so somebody will hire you? He has an excellent resume. I am proud he has basically always worked.
Will we lose everything like my nightmares have foretold? Will we he find work some place else? There is not much left here in Pontiac as options for employment
You think your life goals have been pretty much achieved raising kids and looking forward to your retirement in 10 years then BOOM the pressure and the stress is thrown at you. We were hoping/praying for a miracle to keep the business from closing but at least we have had 30 years of secure living.
The road we have been on since Lizzy was diagnosed dealing with denials and recent medical professionals denying services should of least prepared us for this but it didn't. Its easy to say you want to move away but the reality that your family is all here kind of stops you from venturing out to another geographic area.
So, here I go again brushing myself off and starting over with a positive attitude(I am trying any way).
I still believe in Miracles and the power of Prayer!!

www.our-sma-angels.com/elizabeth



Article below from Local paper The Daily Leader



Sheila Shelton
Pontiac Daily Leader
Sat Mar 07, 2009, 07:02 AM CST

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There were people giving hugs, as well as handshakes, as they bid each other adieu Friday afternoon at Interlake. Horns from cars and other vehicles blared as the workers left the parking lot shortly after 4 p.m.
To many, it may have been the sign of people primed to enjoy the rest of a beautiful afternoon and a couple of days off.
Unfortunately for this group, the appearance of joy only shielded the grim reality of the fact that these people had just left Interlake for the last time. Come Monday, the company will be officially sold.
The president of the United Auto Workers Local employees said Friday was a very sad day at the Pontiac manufacturing plant.
“People are pretty upset and pretty glum inside the plant today,” said Ralph Timan, president of Local 2488, which represents Interlake Inc. Timan spent the day Friday inside the plant that still employed more than 200 people, including union workers and administrative staff.
Timan said the Illinois Department of Employment Security has set up special work sessions to help the Interlake employees. He said a rapid response team from the department would be assigned to Pontiac to help out the employees.
“The sessions will be held at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday at Pontiac City Hall, 115 W. Howard St,” he said. “This will give employees a chance to sign-up for unemployment benefits and will also explain to them what COBRA benefits will be available to them and for how long.”
Timan said everyone working at the plant had been notified that they were terminated as of 4 p.m. on Friday.
“Their benefits through Interlake will remain in place through the end of March only,” he said. “So it will be important for the people to find out exactly how to plan from this point on.”
Timan said he could not speak for the future of the Pontiac plant, which will now be operated by Mecalux Inc., of Spain.
“I do know that there are signs posted in the Pontiac facility stating that Mecalux will begin taking applications for employment on Tuesday, March 10,” he said.
The final sale of United Fixtures Inc., parent company of Interlake, is expected to take place Monday in federal district bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Del.
Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy said Friday afternoon that he is encouraged by the fact that Mecalux says it will be reopening the Pontiac facility.
“The new owner re-hiring is certainly encouraging news,” he said. “This seems to be following exactly what the sale agreement said would happen. Pontiac is in better shape with the rehire and we are not losing an employer as so many communities are doing around the country.”

One of The Worst Weeks Ever (spinal Muscular Atrophy)

This morning was interesting as I had a call from the Patient Relations person at our local hospital. She is investigating Lizzy's PT refusing to continue services. She was confused on the "why" also. The director of rehab is in Chicago so it will be next week when she gets back to us. I could not let this one go by. This was too much.

Its been a heck of a week.
My husband loses his job tomorrow for good. They are all terminated. Office people included. The paper says "lay off" no.... its terminated . The old company(Interlake) is trying to postpone their hearing about cancelling the contract with the union till later this month . They owe the workers severance pay.

Any way I can go on and on but its not going to do me any good. What is done is done. Its time we get the heck out of Dodge because its sounding like we will lose the prison also. So, real estate just took another nose dive here. So, much for making money on our home we bought 18 years ago. I do not know how we are going make house payments, pay utlities etc.... We just have to though.
I have cried myself to sleep all week long so far. I have to remain positive for Lizzy but man its getting harder and harder to do that. The good thing is I am so looking forward to our trip to Stanford next week. Just to get away for a few days and let my mind rest. Only bad situation is that Dawn is due and ready to have the baby at anytime. We can not cancel or Lizzy will not get her medicine. She is down to the last days on that.
On a good note Lizzy has bounced back and doing great. No more plugging. I had a wonderful mother send me some breast milk for Lizzy. I have more coming from more moms when I can pay for it being sent over night and I have a donor that will give Lizzy her breast milk every month starting after we get back from CA. I have some surrgate moms that have offered to help too... So. things are looking up. Only thing not sure how to count Lizzy's cals on the breast milk so I will have to go back to 20cals an ounce figuring her diet. Lizzy has been on 22-26 cals an ounce from the donor bank. I hope my doc gets it approved for Lizzy again. It was so hard finding a way to get cals(fat) into her diet with out problems. Its been working well for so 3 years now.
So , please keep us in your prayers.
We believe in miracles!!
www.our-sma-angels.com/elizabeth

The last days of 30 years of service (spinal Muscular Atrophy)

Well, the time has come and our fears have become reality. The Company Mecalux has bought Interlake. The article from The Pontiac Daily leader is below.
My husband has worked hard for over 30 years at Interlake.

Then the kicker today..... Lizzy physical therapist Monica at ST. James Hospital here decided that Elizabeth no longer needs Physical therapy(water therapy). Its not insurance denying Elizabeth. Its her Monica that made that decision. She decided all her own that she was done with Elizabeth. Water therapy has kept Elizabeth strong and moving. I lost it.... I asked her what is it with you all in this area? You are just giving up on Elizabeth ? What else people?? Come on.......enough is enough..... If we had a way to sell our house and find Paul a job we would out of here. This is turning into a nightmare all these things happening to us.



Lizzy has been plugging since Saturday. Not sure what is going on. She is better today

We got a few donors that are donating breast milk and I am so very much relieved to hear this news for Lizzy. The donor milk bank quit sending the breast milk she needs to survive. She has a fatty Meboblism disorder and it took years to perfect her diet. She needs breast milk due to her disease. She is also feed through her g-tube.

The article on Interlake

Pontiac, Ill. -
Word reached Pontiac this morning that Mecalux of Spain was the only bidder in bankruptcy court for the sale of United Fixtures Inc., which owns Interlake, Inc. but all the news was not good for employees.
“It has been posted at the Pontiac plant that Mecalux was the only bidder and that all employees of the Pontiac plant will be terminated on Thursday of this week,” said Eric Monical bargaining chair of Local 2488. “These employees include approximately 200 members of UAW Local 248.”
Monical said he has been on vacation from the plant but was going out to the plant this morning.
“I am scheduled to meet with Ralph Timan sometime today. Ralph is the president of Local 2488 and we will see where we go from here,” he said. “We, as union members, come Thursday absolutely have no guarantees.”
Monical said it is his understanding that Mecalux will terminate all the employees (union and non-union) and then begin interviewing to refill the positions.
“We would all have to reapply as non-union potential employees,” said Monical. “The union will be recognized only if Mecalux hires back more than 50 percent plus one of the current union employees.”
Monical said it is his understanding that the termination of the union employees is also being considered by the same bankruptcy judge that approved the sale to Mecalux.
Timan told The Daily Leader, in a February interview, that if other companies made bids in the bankruptcy court prior to March 2 there would be an auction among bidders between Monday and Wednesday of this week.
It was the failure of other bidders that led the bankruptcy judge to be able to finalize everything on Monday.
Timan told The Leader this morning that he really doesn’t know when the judge will rule on the status of the union at Interlake.
“There is no guessing when he will rule on the petitions submitted by the lawyers for the UAW,” said Timan. “We believe our collective bargaining agreement should be upheld.The sale is expected to be finalized this Friday in bankruptcy court. Does that mean the judge will rule on our petitions then? I have no idea.
“The United Fixtures entity is going away. Interlake is no longer a business entity and it was the one paying all of our benefits,” he added. “A company which no longer exists and was dissolved through bankruptcy can be difficult to have openly honoring contracts. But the other side of this is Mecalux — the new owner — with no employees. How this will all play out we simply don’t know.”
Timan said there is no indication of when Mecalux will begin interviewing for positions here or how many positions there will be.
“I am hopeful that today or tomorrow Mecalux will announce they will begin taking applications immediately. All we are hearing so far is that they intend to keep the Pontiac plant here and operational so we know they need employees,” he said.
Say some prayers for us we need all we can get!!!!!!

We believe in miracles!!
www.our-sma-angels.com/elizabeth

Not so good news for us (Spinal Muscular Atrophy)

Lizzy is doing better. She is back in her "Purple power chair" running all over the house tormenting her mother.

Please have the Sartoris Family in your thoughts, prayers and hearts today and tomorrow. Their sweet angel Sam earned his wings Jan.1st He was a very special little guy.


Well, The company Interlake here in Pontiac that my husband works for filed bankruptcy today. For some reason the union and workers have been told it will not be until Wednesday they would file.
Please please please add the workers of Interlake,their families and us all in your prayers. I ask again. The power of prayer works.
So, many unanswered questions . Its hurts to think we might have to leave my kids and my parents. My daughter Dawn is expecting a baby and due in March I want to be here to help her. I don't know if we will be able to stay here. Will we be have to or able to sell our house if we have to move? Will my husband be able to find a job at 54 if he has too? Will he be able to stay at his work. Will I be able to find work if I have to? The worrying is consuming my waking thoughts. From what I understand the company from Spain called Mecalux is supposedly buying the Interlake in Bankruptcy court. How that affects the workers in still unknown. The gag order is now off the workers and we know now that Interlake tried to get the workers to take pay cuts, senority, pay more insurance costs, cut dental, take away vacation and all sorts of things, Four inch thick worth of demands so Metcalux would buy them. They threaten Bankruptcy and closing the doors if the workers and union would not agree to the terms. That was last week. The workers were on gag order until today.

What ever it takes we will do it to keep us together. Elizabeth needs us to be strong for her.

Okay, President Elect Obama you have your work cut out for you in 2009. Lets see how you will get things done. You have a great staff with some of the best minds. There has to be solutions to this economy mess.

We all have a lot of challenges we are facing this New Year already.

The Prison situation is on hold for now.

We believe in Miracles. They do happen. I live with one and her name is Elizabeth.

www.our-sma-angels.com/elizabeth

What will the future hold for us? (Spinal Muscular Atrophy)

Well, Papa went back to work yesterday only to get a notice that they will be closing his work in 60 days. The company is not telling the whole truth to the media. There is a gag order until Monday on the workers. Then, the truth will come out. There is more to this than anyone at Interlake is saying.


By John Faddoul
Pontiac Daily Leader
Tue Dec 30, 2008, 01:42 PM CST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Pontiac, Ill. -
Interlake’s Pontiac plant “may be” permanently closed about the end of February, according to a required notice given to employees this week, although efforts today by The Daily Leader to reach corporate spokesmen on the future of the plant were unsuccessful.
The notice was required under federal and Illinois laws about possible plant closings, but a source who spoke with The Leader this morning said that employees were told there would probably be a large layoff, to about 150 workers, representing one shift. The notice given to employs refers to 262 employees. It also says that the plant “may be” closed, not that it will be closed.
Pontiac Plant Manager Ron Bakos referred questions to United Fixtures Interlake offices in Naperville, but The Leader this morning was unsuccessful in reaching spokesmen in the Human Resources office there.
The Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers to provide 60 days advance notice of pending plant closures or mass layoffs. The notice about the Pontiac plant was provided to employees pursuant to that and the federal WARN Act.
Interlake Material Handling Inc. “may be closing” its facility at 701 Interlake Drive in Pontiac because of “unforeseen business circumstances, namely a significant and unexpected drop-off in business over the last several months, due to the faltering economy,” read the notice, dated Dec. 29 and signed by Interlake President and CEO Daniel P. Wilson. A copy of the notice was obtained by The Daily Leader.
The plant closing, “if necessary will result in the separation of all of the approximately 262 employees,” says the notice.
Following is the text of the notice to employees obtained by The Leader:
“It is with regret we must advise you that, due to unforeseen business circumstances, namely a significant and unexpected drop-off in business over the last several months due to the faltering economy, Interlake Material Handling, Inc. (the "Company") may be closing its facility and discontinuing its operations at 701 Interlake Drive, Pontiac, Illinois, 61764.
“The Company has been seeking, but has been unable to secure, capital which would allow us to continue our operations. We have also been in discussions with a potential purchaser. Unless we are able to obtain sufficient capital or to finalize a sale, the Company likely will implement a plant closing that will result in the termination of all operations at the facility. Although it is difficult to predict what will occur in light of the current situation, the Company anticipates that the plant closing, if necessary, will result in the separation of all of the approximately 262 employees. The expected employment separations, if necessary, are likely to occur during the fourteen-day period commencing on February 15, 2009 or soon thereafter. The facility would be completely closed shortly thereafter. The plant closing, if necessary, is expected to be permanent. As a result, any bumping rights you may have would not apply.
“This notice is being given to you pursuant to the Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which require employers to give official notice to affected employees of a pending mass layoff or plant closing. We realize that this decision will cause hardship to our employees, and we can assure you that we hope to accomplish the closing of the facility, if necessary, with the least possible disruption to the lives of our employees and their families.
“You will receive further information in the coming weeks regarding the closing of the facility and your opportunity to continue healthcare coverage (if you are currently enrolled in Company healthcare plans). In the meantime, the Company official you should contact for further information on this matter is” and lists Plant Manager Bakos. Interlake is the largest manufacturer of steel storage racks in the Americas, the company’s Web site says, and is division of United Fixtures/Interlake, Interlake Material Handling is headquartered in Naperville and employs more than 650.

IAC, Ill. - About 260 employees of a central Illinois storage-rack factory are at risk of losing their jobs, in what would be the latest blow to the community of Pontiac.

Layoffs at Interlake Material Handling could start on Feb. 15 if the plant can't secure fresh capital or find a buyer and the company could close soon after that, according to a letter obtained by The (Bloomington) Pantagraph.

Interlake Material Handling CEO Daniel Wilson wrote the letter, posted Tuesday on the newspaper's Web site, to the company's board chairman, Bill Fairfield.

Wilson blamed "unforeseen business circumstances" for the company's woes, which he said included a drop in business over the last several months amid the global credit crunch.



Interlake is Pontiac's sixth largest employer, and Mayor Scott McCoy said Tuesday that he holds out some hope the plant will find a way to stay open.

"The information I've received so far indicates to me that there are possible solutions to this situation," he said. "I'm committed to do what I can to help retain all local businesses and jobs."

Employees were informed about the possibility of layoffs Monday, said Ralph Timan, president of the United Auto Workers Local 2488, which represents more than 220 plant workers.

"Obviously, it's devastating for our members," he said.

It wouldn't be the first Interlake layoffs.

The company laid off nearly 70 workers in April, then let go 45 hourly workers and four salaried employees in August.

Word of the latest layoffs also comes as embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to close Pontiac's second largest employer still looms. If the Pontiac Correctional Center shuts down, 570 prison workers could lose their jobs.

Pontiac officials have accused Blagojevich, arrested earlier this month on charges he put President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat up for sale, of using the plan to close the prison as a big stick to batter political opponents.

But administration officials have said the closure is a cost-cutting measure based on economics, not politics.