Linda Jones Leffel

It seems but in a dream, my beloved Mother, Linda Lee Leffel took the hand of our God to heaven on November 18,  2021. She was loved by all,  but will be missed by me the most,  her daughter,  “Angie.”  She was a Nurse for most of her life,  and would have certainly made Florence Nightingale very proud,  She  loved every patient,  the sickest and most challenged,  her most adored.  The elderly touched her heart just as much as the babies.  In the 1970’s when  salaries for a Nurse were  a minimal of $2.00 an hour   and  a lot of the the other Nurses were on Strike in West Virginia at that time.  But,  it  was my  heroic Mother,  with her white cape and white Nurses ‘ cap that saved each day,  by continuing her challenges of working long double shifts,  and not taking  even a minimal break for lunch. She worked for Dr. Bitenger and Dr. Wurst at Pinecrest Hospital. If she didn’t have another Nurse or Assistant to help,  she did her job, plus theirs’ while saying,  “ Someone has to take care of these patients,  and  I will make sure that they are,  on my watch…Even though,  Mom was busy and overly tired most days when I was little and growing up, she would take the time to sit down and play Barbies   and color forms  with my poodle puppy  and I .    She always made time for my Dad and family members when were sick,  and comforted those of our family and friends at  the time,  in which they drew their last breath.  She  was well known for her famed  cream cheese brownies,  chocolate cake,  or anything  she cooked for that matter, also holiday decorating and interior design she learned from  the best,  my grandmother “Mary Ellen,” and Aunt Melba,   gave her much joy and pride to share with her friends ..She also loved matching clothes,  crocheting,  and making Victorian hats  and wreaths  for our front doors,  or anything else from candles to bath salts and canning  strawberry freezer  jam for the summer.
She was strict,  but had a had a funny side as well, and a mighty quick wit.  Her words of wisdom to me were to Pray to God everyday,  work as hard as you can at anything you do, always tell the truth and never take anything that isn’t yours,  or haven’t earned,  and whatever you do,  if you work in the field of Medicine, make sure you polish those shoes white everyday!”  Mom,  was immaculate as such, no dirt in her house,  and make sure those shoes stay at the door,  cause germs and dirt are on peoples 'shoes and you don’t want that in the house! “.  And,  she was exactly right,  especially what we’re dealing with now days.    My Mom’s favorite song growing up was,  Plenty of Time, by Connie Smith ,  I used to sing it for her in Church.    She said, “If there was. a song that could save her soul,  it would be that one. So, Mrs. Smith,  if you see this, Could you record that song once more,  for my Mom and I?  She wanted to meet you,  but there was not enough  time.  And,  there’s still” ten million” or more,  that need to hear it before they die…She also loved Elvis,  and the song,  “Momma loved the roses,  was one of her most favored.  My Mom holds the yellow rose,  in my bouquet of life,  with babies’ breath and white daisies,  her favorite.  My Grandmother,  would say,  “Remember me in the butterflies.”  It never seems to fail.  those butterflies always come out,  In mass multiples when our family has needed them the most.  Like the  time of my Mom’s first round of cancer about 11 yrs. ago, when a mass gathering of butterflies surrounded my Mother and my cousin Jessica, in her Jeep after her cancer treatments, all the way home….                I could go on and on about my Mom’s life and how she helped others in her life,  but the most important thing is how she loved her God and how I want to make sure that she gets all of her wishes honored.  I’ve done that so far,  except that there’s one wish,  that was hard for her and spoke of it often.  You see,  I also,  have an incurable,  terminal disease-  It’s called, “Chronic Lyme” Neuroborreliosis.  I was bitten by the tick vector,  at the age of 8 yrs.  old and several times after.  I have been suffering for most of my life, with debilitating, bone, muscle,  blood boiling type pain,  fevers,  nausea, chronic insomnia and fatigue to name just a few.  I did manage to work in the field as did my Mother,  but my  life is now coming to the halt from crutches to a wheelchair and back again.  My Mother also thought she was bit by ticks,  which also has been shown to cause or mimic other diseases-  she always had the bulls- eye rash in the middle of her back….  She would never ask for help,  neither would I,  but that was her last wish you see- That she wanted help for me….The only Physician that could help me,  is Dr. Joseph G. Jemsek in Washington.  D.C. , I worked near him at the Nalle Clinic in Charlotte,  N.C. and has been the only Physician that has the courage and bravery to stand up to the controversy and  chaos of the Physicians that refuse to see Lyme patients or treat us. The CDC has not allowed proper research or the use of IV antibiotics and antivirals as a definite protocol to help us.  In the state of North Carolina,( as well,  as many other states), it is next to impossible,  for a Dr. to treat us,  or they hide or run,  at the reasons around the issue for fear of back- lash against them.  I don’t blame them,  God is our judge.  I  and my Mother would just like to see a change that’s all,  for  the good of all patients.    Because,  treatment available,  such as Dr. Jemsek’s, could not only assist in Lyme patients,  but Cancer, COVID,  AIDS,  MS research and more.  Since treatment is not available with a standard protocol is not available, insurance companies will either not pay for his or other Physicians that would like to help to treat the disease.  So all treatment is not  covered by any insurance, and is totally out of pocket...An account is being set up named the Linda Lee Leffel Fund for her daughter “Angie’s”( Angela Lynn Chichersky) care and travel,  and if  she predeceases before  care can be given,  or finished,  we would wish the fund to  further care of family members stricken with the disease,  or any of  Dr. Jemsek’s patients and or by which, who  are unable to afford treatment…. Dr.  Joseph G.  Jemsek is a World Re-known Physician in  the Treatment  of Lyme’s disease-  Donations can be made in the honor of Linda Lee Leffel - The Jemsek Specialty Clinic 2440 M St NW Suite 205    Washington,  DC. 20037.    Tel  1 (202) 955-0003.
I would further like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks  to Dr. Jemsek,  his Manager Susan Thurston, and staff. My best friend ,  Major Ronald K. Jandebeur,  FNP, Mom’s best friend and Country Singer, (Billy Payne),  “Beverly and Doris,  “Sheila and Lisa, “ and “Roger, “ her Nurses at the Bower’s Hospice House of Southern WV Alicia & Tandy) and their staff, her Home health Agencies’,  Nurses,  Physicians and staff,  “Merry” and entire staff at Tyree’s Funeral Home,  Bessie’s Flowers (Barb,  Rosetta, Olivia and staff ,  ( Oak Hill,  WV).  all of the family included,  Robert D. Roop Sr.(brother),  Jesdica Roop, Click (Bill) &  Children, Charlene Kirby & Family,  Robert D.Roop Jr.(Julia) Ti & Family, Lori Roop,  Jamie Roop & Family,  Michael  J. Chichersky (Angie) &. his family for all they’ve done for us,  as well as all of our dear friends and neighbors in WV and NC.-  and anyone else or failed to mention.  Further ,a request is being made in Linda Lee Leffel’s name,  for a bill to be passed in Congress for  all people who not only have Lyme disease , but for any disease for that matter,  to encourage the medical community to acknowledge it,  as a true diagnosis and to be treated as such,  with empathy and compassion…..
Thank you to Oak Hill Animal Hospital, Dr. Osborne, Karen, Julia and staff, Haelee and Holly, and for the care of Jazzy and our other animals in the past. and also to Clear Creek Animal Hospital, Charlotte, NC - Dr. Bamonte', Libby and staff.
Linda has a Facebook page for anyone wishing to leave condolences there.
A balloon release with the colors to signify the diseases that have affected our family and friends the most,  with butterflies imprinted on them, at the end of the Memorial service to celebrate the life of my Mother to the songs of “ I will always love you, “  by Whitney Houston  and  “ I can only Imagine,”. by Mercy Me…
Fly high,  sweet angel,  may God be exalted in all of this, till we meet again,  I love you ,  Mom…..

Services will be on Friday, December 10, 2021 at 12:00 P.M. at High Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum in Oak Hill. Entombment will follow.

Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, WV