Our Friend Cecily Knobler’s Heart is Broken and You Can Help

Can you become close friends with someone you've only met in-person once? Yes, if that person is Cecily Knobler. She has been our Hollywood movie critic for over two decades and we've talked to her every single week during that time. Did we discuss movies? Yes, we did, but more often than not, those conversations extended well beyond the parameters of film.

Our discussions tend to be lengthy examinations of everything from daily frustrations, to our mutual love of dogs, our hatred of ignorance and mean people, our annoyance at politics and politicians, our concerns about the environment, parents, aging, life in LA versus life in Sioux Falls--you name it, we've covered it.

These intimate and wide-ranging exchanges led to a deeply cherished friendship, even before we met. Cecily is an extraordinary person, highly intelligent, keenly perceptive, kind to a fault, capable of extremely elegant commentary, as well as bawdy drollery.

She is a self-employed writer, actress, has done stand-up comedy and radio, made several appearances as a commentator (Best Week Ever...), is quite often mistaken for Alanis Morrisette, but most importantly she is someone we have come to love.

Very recently we have learned that her big heart is broken. Literally. Cecily has a coronary aneurysm and her aorta is also disintegrating. She is in very real danger of not existing anymore. At the end of June, Cecily is facing an exceedingly complicated surgery to rebuild her aortic root and replace the heart valve affected by the aneurysm.

As you can imagine the costs associated with the surgery, not to mention all of the tests and treatments, hospitalization and aftercare are going to be astronomical. Like many self-employed and part-time workers Cecily's insurance is private, very expensive and covers very little of what she will be billed.

So, she reluctantly started a GoFundMe page. I say reluctantly, because unlike so many people on GoFundMe, she didn't want to ask for help, but she was at a loss as to what else to do. She is scared, she is sad and we want her to know that it matters to us.

If you can find it in your heart to help, please go to her GoFundMe page. We would be grateful beyond measure.

Thank you.

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