MATHILDA KAREL SPAK |
To those interested in the amazing story of Mathilda Karel Spak, founder of the Myasthenia
Gravis Foundation of California, this is a "must read." Learn about this incredible woman’s
journey through a century of life driven by the principle of helping the sick and less fortunate.
Mathilda's story is extraordinary. When approached about telling the story of her amazing life,
she insisted she had not done anything special! “Why would anybody want to read about me?”
she asked.
Well, as we all know, Mathilda Karel Spak is very special – an inspiration to us all! At more
than one hundred years old, she still goes to work these days, volunteering and helping those less
fortunate while advising others from her own life experiences.
Mathilda charts Myasthenia Gravis from the time when her mother, herself an MG patient,
required hourly injections to stay alive, to now when more and more MG patients live relatively
normal lives.
For a donation of $20 to Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California – all of which goes to
finding a cure for MG – you will have a gem of a little book to savour!
Contact the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California to order your book today TOLL FREE
at (800) 574-7884 (800) 574-7884 or email alecs@myasthenia-ca.org.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mathilda Karel Spak
an Interview with...
Mathilda Karel Spak
104 Year Old
CO-FOUNDER OF THE
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS FOUNDATION OF CALIFORNIA
WHAT I DO: Retired since 1960, I have the luxury of volunteering full-time for all of my
favorite causes. And now, at age 104, I spend two days each week leading volunteers at a local
hospital, securing donations of new clothing for poor children, distributing teddy bears to sick
children and residents of nursing homes and raising funds for cancer research. Additionally, I
volunteer at least 20 hours each week for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California, a
cause that has been close to my heart for nearly 50 years since my own mother contracted and
later died of the disease.
The consequences of aging are inevitable: hearing diminishes, vision blurs and muscles weaken.
However, I firmly believe that “a person doesn’t stop having fun because she grows old—she
grows old because she stops having fun!”
HOW I FIND BALANCE: Sadly, my immediate family and friends from my early life and
middle years are long since gone. Over the years, I have had to constantly cultivate new
relationships with people. To have friends, one must first “be a friend.” Reaching out and
helping others and not dwelling on my own aches, pains and problems have kept me vital. I use
a call schedule for all my ailing friends and relatives in rest homes and hospitals so that I reach
out to them regularly.
ON VOLUNTEERING: Over 70 years ago my mother encouraged me to volunteer and I have
not stopped yet. When I retired in 1960, I was able to make volunteering my full-time job.
There are so many good causes out there, and the people helped are so grateful. Their thanks
and appreciation makes me feel great and grateful to be alive!
INSPIRATION FOR CHARITY: At my mother’s knee, I learned the importance of helping
others. It was a lesson that I believe contributed to my longevity. Mother emigrated from
Russia as the child bride of a man 25 years her senior in a marriage arranged by her rabbi
father. Left a widow at the age of 23, fluent in seven languages but unable to speak English and
with three young children, mother’s situation seemed overwhelming. Proud to become a citizen
of this great country, she prevailed while always helping those less fortunate.
Most vivid in my memory is setting an extra place at the dinner table each evening so that
someone less fortunate could join us for a nourishing meal. I also remember running errands for
neighbors who were either ill or aged when I was just a girl. With my first job at 18, mother
insisted I donated $2 of my weekly $10 wages to charity.
While building my career in insurance and real estate during the 1930-40s, she inspired me to
volunteer. Sadly, mother contracted Myasthenia Gravis (MG), a neuromuscular disease which
left her bedridden and dependent upon special injections every hour for the last ten years of her
life. For this reason, I co-founded the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California in 1954.
Today, I hold the distinction of being the most senior MG volunteer in the nation.
Since MG is difficult to diagnose and treat, I established a California clinic, the first solely
devoted to care for MG patients. There are now three in the state. Also, this is my 39th year
running our Drug Bank which offers live-saving medications to MG patients at very low prices
and, in some instances, free.
MY HEALTH: Research studies link volunteerism with good health in the elderly. If this is
true, then I may be the ideal test case. I firmly believe that I have lived so long simply because I
have a purpose. Despite several heart attacks, strokes and bouts with cancer, nothing has kept
me from volunteering.
SECRETS OF LONGEVITY: I am frequently mistaken for someone at least 20 years my
junior, but this may be due in part to my secret skin-care beauty regiment (Vaseline!).
My age is especially remarkable when considering my diet. Salads and vegetables never touch
my lips; cookies, candy, ice cream and cake are my four major food groups.
WISE WORDS: Finding humor in life is very important and a good “belly laugh” does wonders
for the immune system. When someone asks me the secret to living a long life, I tell them to
“keep breathing…and, remember to have fun!”
FINALLY: Following my mother’s example, I try to live my life with courage, grace and good
humor. Thankfully, my telephone rings off the hook with requests for help. It is amazing, but I
have everyone buffaloed. People think that they need me. The real truth is I need them!
Gravis Foundation of California, this is a "must read." Learn about this incredible woman’s
journey through a century of life driven by the principle of helping the sick and less fortunate.
Mathilda's story is extraordinary. When approached about telling the story of her amazing life,
she insisted she had not done anything special! “Why would anybody want to read about me?”
she asked.
Well, as we all know, Mathilda Karel Spak is very special – an inspiration to us all! At more
than one hundred years old, she still goes to work these days, volunteering and helping those less
fortunate while advising others from her own life experiences.
Mathilda charts Myasthenia Gravis from the time when her mother, herself an MG patient,
required hourly injections to stay alive, to now when more and more MG patients live relatively
normal lives.
For a donation of $20 to Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California – all of which goes to
finding a cure for MG – you will have a gem of a little book to savour!
Contact the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California to order your book today TOLL FREE
at (800) 574-7884 (800) 574-7884 or email alecs@myasthenia-ca.org.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mathilda Karel Spak
an Interview with...
Mathilda Karel Spak
104 Year Old
CO-FOUNDER OF THE
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS FOUNDATION OF CALIFORNIA
WHAT I DO: Retired since 1960, I have the luxury of volunteering full-time for all of my
favorite causes. And now, at age 104, I spend two days each week leading volunteers at a local
hospital, securing donations of new clothing for poor children, distributing teddy bears to sick
children and residents of nursing homes and raising funds for cancer research. Additionally, I
volunteer at least 20 hours each week for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California, a
cause that has been close to my heart for nearly 50 years since my own mother contracted and
later died of the disease.
The consequences of aging are inevitable: hearing diminishes, vision blurs and muscles weaken.
However, I firmly believe that “a person doesn’t stop having fun because she grows old—she
grows old because she stops having fun!”
HOW I FIND BALANCE: Sadly, my immediate family and friends from my early life and
middle years are long since gone. Over the years, I have had to constantly cultivate new
relationships with people. To have friends, one must first “be a friend.” Reaching out and
helping others and not dwelling on my own aches, pains and problems have kept me vital. I use
a call schedule for all my ailing friends and relatives in rest homes and hospitals so that I reach
out to them regularly.
ON VOLUNTEERING: Over 70 years ago my mother encouraged me to volunteer and I have
not stopped yet. When I retired in 1960, I was able to make volunteering my full-time job.
There are so many good causes out there, and the people helped are so grateful. Their thanks
and appreciation makes me feel great and grateful to be alive!
INSPIRATION FOR CHARITY: At my mother’s knee, I learned the importance of helping
others. It was a lesson that I believe contributed to my longevity. Mother emigrated from
Russia as the child bride of a man 25 years her senior in a marriage arranged by her rabbi
father. Left a widow at the age of 23, fluent in seven languages but unable to speak English and
with three young children, mother’s situation seemed overwhelming. Proud to become a citizen
of this great country, she prevailed while always helping those less fortunate.
Most vivid in my memory is setting an extra place at the dinner table each evening so that
someone less fortunate could join us for a nourishing meal. I also remember running errands for
neighbors who were either ill or aged when I was just a girl. With my first job at 18, mother
insisted I donated $2 of my weekly $10 wages to charity.
While building my career in insurance and real estate during the 1930-40s, she inspired me to
volunteer. Sadly, mother contracted Myasthenia Gravis (MG), a neuromuscular disease which
left her bedridden and dependent upon special injections every hour for the last ten years of her
life. For this reason, I co-founded the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California in 1954.
Today, I hold the distinction of being the most senior MG volunteer in the nation.
Since MG is difficult to diagnose and treat, I established a California clinic, the first solely
devoted to care for MG patients. There are now three in the state. Also, this is my 39th year
running our Drug Bank which offers live-saving medications to MG patients at very low prices
and, in some instances, free.
MY HEALTH: Research studies link volunteerism with good health in the elderly. If this is
true, then I may be the ideal test case. I firmly believe that I have lived so long simply because I
have a purpose. Despite several heart attacks, strokes and bouts with cancer, nothing has kept
me from volunteering.
SECRETS OF LONGEVITY: I am frequently mistaken for someone at least 20 years my
junior, but this may be due in part to my secret skin-care beauty regiment (Vaseline!).
My age is especially remarkable when considering my diet. Salads and vegetables never touch
my lips; cookies, candy, ice cream and cake are my four major food groups.
WISE WORDS: Finding humor in life is very important and a good “belly laugh” does wonders
for the immune system. When someone asks me the secret to living a long life, I tell them to
“keep breathing…and, remember to have fun!”
FINALLY: Following my mother’s example, I try to live my life with courage, grace and good
humor. Thankfully, my telephone rings off the hook with requests for help. It is amazing, but I
have everyone buffaloed. People think that they need me. The real truth is I need them!
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