Hi All,
My name is Sheri. My husband Mario suffered from OCD since the age of 9. My husband had severe OCD, with numerous mental rituals, attention to detail, you name it he had the symptom. My husband was the first person in the US to undergo an experimental surgery called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to alleviate his symptoms. The surgery had some success, but unfortunately his life ended unexpectedly and unrelated to his OCD on January 5, 2009. In March of 2009, I and other family and friends started a non-profit organization in his memory called the Mario Della Grotta OCD Awareness Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to educate, raise awareness about OCD, reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and to offer a scholarship each year to a RI high school senior who is applying to a four year college and is afflicted with OCD. Each year so far we have had our annual dinner dance for the foundation and last year was the first year we awarded a scholarship. This year our event is Thursday, May 19th at the Quidnessett Country Club. Once again we will be awarding another scholarship.
I write to you because you know what it is like to live with OCD. You know what the stigma that is associated with having a mental illness. My organization is working very hard to reach out to indivudals who either have OCD or support the mission of reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. If you are local (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Connecticut) Resident and wish to attend this year's dinner dance please contact me at [email protected] for more information or for tickets. If you wish to make a donation to the foundation you can do so either by sending a check to the Mario Della Grotta OCD Awareness Foundation, P.O. Box 19514, Johnston, RI 02919 or visit our website www.mdgocd.org. I thank you for your time and wish you well.