Williston Park woman aided in fight by Memories

Richard Jacques

Two years ago, Gail Werner was diagnosed with brain cancer.

The Williston Park resident, who was 38 at the time, was told she had 4 to 7 years to live.

In that time, Werner hoped to leave something for friends and family and one day while watching a news story on CBS learned about Memories Live.

A free service founded by Great Neck native Kerry Glass in 2010, Memories Live creates moving images for the families of patients that allow those stricken with life-threatening illness to talk to future generations and leave behind a window to their lives.

By capturing family history, personal life experiences and advice for children and grandchildren, the movie helps capture the essence of who her clients are, according to Glass.

Glass said she began the business earlier this year after hearing of a tri-state woman who died of lung cancer and left behind a husband, and two children under the age of six.

As a mother of two young children herself, Glass was emotionally struck by the thought of the devastation that this family must have felt. She said she was left saddened even more so by the notion that these two young kids would never know fully their mother’s hopes and dreams for her kids, or some solace in knowing better who their mom was.

Glass grew up in Great Neck and attended high school there, her parents still live in Lake Success. Supported by donations and now living in Millburn, N.J., she said her greatest rewards are not monitery.

“Every time I leave the clients home I get a hug,” she said. “They are so grateful, so happy to be given the opportunity.”

Werner said that Memories Live is now helping her cope with the reality of her situation as she remains hopeful of her days ahead.

Werner, who has lived with her mother in Williston Park for the past two years while undergoing cancer treatments, recently completed the filming a 90-minute movie filled with personal details of her life and battles with her illness. With the help of Memories Live, she is pleased to have created a connection to her friends and family which she hopes will last forever.

“I was able to express my feelings in life and for other people,” said Werner, who had 95 percent of a life-threatening tumor removed from her brain in 2008.

The surgery left her with diminished vision in one eye, but she remains optimistic and active as she continues her battle to fight the disease. Hopeful yet cautious, she said her tumor is not growing at the moment which has enabled her to enjoy her life with family and friends; she went skydiving in October.

Although the doctor said the cancer will return someday, she has no plans of slowing down.

“Don’t let anything that is holding you back, hold you back,” she said.

With high praise for the Memories Live process, Werner said the concern and professionalism shown by Glass for her situation was fantastic. She said she is completely satisfied with the company and the treatment she received.

“If it was a one to 10, I’d give them a 15,” Werner said. “(Glass) was amazing.”

On a mission to help people like Werner with life-threatening illness preserve their images, stories and wisdom by creating personalized movies to pass on to their loved ones, the not-for-profit company provides a process which is quick and easy.

Clients receive a standard list of questions centered on life events or milestones to help with initial movie ideas. Filming then takes place in a comfortable setting of the clients choice. The footage is edited by Memories Live with music and memorabilia layered into the final product upon client approval. The result is a combination of video footage, music and photographs presented in a DVD format.

From start to finish, the memories live process takes between three and four weeks, according to Glass. The core interview takes approximately two hours. More information can be found at online at www.memorieslive.org.

Share this Article