Thomas Jasak contributes to Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charities each year to support medical research studies like those that helped his daughter, Theresa.
Thomas, a Vaucluse, SC, postal support employee, and his wife, Christina, adopted Theresa and four other children with special needs.
Theresa, 18, was four months old when she was diagnosed with several neurological disorders, including cerebral palsy and schizencephaly, a form of epilepsy that involves frequent seizures.
“On a great day, she will have no more than two seizures,” said Thomas. “On a normal day, she will have up to 10, and on awful days, she can have more than 50.”
At age 3, Theresa’s seizures had become so severe that her doctor wanted to implant a device to reduce their frequency. The procedure, however, wasn’t recommended for children younger than 12.
After a year, additional epilepsy research suggested it was OK for patients like Theresa to receive the implants.
“Without that research, Theresa would have had to wait,” Thomas said.
Thomas, who joined USPS in 2017 after serving 22 years in the U.S. Army, has contributed to the Epilepsy Foundation and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation through the CFC for 15 years.
Both organizations are among the more than 8,000 charities participating in this year’s CFC campaign season, underway through Jan. 11.
“The cause you want to champion is represented in some way and could use your help,” said Kathleen Harper, a human resources program and policy analyst who oversees the Postal Service’s CFC efforts.
The CFC Blue and LiteBlue pages have guidelines on contributing to the campaign.
Thomas looks forward to continuing to support his preferred charities this year.
“I want these foundations to continue to grow and find ways of curing or helping people with these conditions,” he said.