Elena Anadolis

My name is Elena Anadolis and my late twin sister Elizabeth and I have been patients of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at CUMC since the age of 3. At the time of the inception of the Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center (which is housed in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery), our care was transitioned there.  Elizabeth was my angel on earth. She taught me empathy as well as compassion for others and myself. Despite her inability to communicate in "a traditional way", she was able to express her needs and feelings through touch, facial expressions, vocalizations, kisses and movement of certain body parts. She was a fighter from the day we were born until she took her last breath, doing what she loved most with me--holding hands while dancing to Greek music—-the way we started every new day for 34 years.

February 5, 2021 was the second anniversary of her leaving the physical world. Elizabeth is the reason that I have been able to come to a place of  self-acceptance and my experiences with her allowed me to realize my passion for advocating for people with disabilities i.e. Cerebral Palsy. The WFCPC has not only cared for us and our medical needs but, has also given me a platform  to use my experiences and expertise to help others.

It is in this spirit and with Elizabeth in my heart that I ask all of you to donate to the Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center in memory of Elizabeth this year. Your support will help continue community initiatives and allow us to compensate patients, guest bloggers, speakers, etc.. fairly for work they do on behalf of the Center, as we continually strive to compensate those who use their voice to lift up and advocate for the disability community fairly and equitably.

Please consider sharing this page with your network so that we can continue to empower and support persons with Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities, showing that we are valued and productive members of society and I thank you for your support.