Like how to send magazine subscriptions from many caring Tampa Tribune readers to a woman whose identity, privacy and safety we're trying to preserve.

Ditto with library books.

The offers to donate books and magazines present some problems, as well, because of limited storage space and questions about who can collect and deliver them.

The hospital beds that readers are so kindly willing to donate turn out to be too difficult and expensive to adapt to Ann's needs.

The day of beauty offered by a local hair salon isn't simple, either.

Ann has central core neural myopathy, a form of muscular dystrophy.

She's like a rag doll. Only great effort keeps her head raised and her body in a sitting position. Her arms are like limp spaghetti. Her leg muscles have only somewhat more strength.

She dials the bedside telephone and changes the channel on the small television's remote control with a straw in her mouth.

Many Kind And Generous Folks

I wrote about Ann on Nov. 2. Her initial and critical need was for an electronic, remote door lock that she can use from her bedroom to lock and unlock her apartment's front door.

She spends a lot of time by herself. One daughter is a student at Florida State University. The other is a junior in high school. Both are stellar students.

Ann does have an aide who comes for a few hours a day to help her use the bedpan, bathe and dress. But, because she has severe mobility problems, she spends most of her time in bed.

Now, she sits against piles of pillows on a regular bed. If she lies flat, she can't get up, which leads to a fear of suffocation that brings on anxiety attacks.

The bed she needs requires an electronic device to operate it without the use of her hands.

She's Thrilled And Overwhelmed

Ann's plight tapped that rich vein of generosity and caring that runs so strong and deep in our community.

Donations have provided enough money for the door lock and are close to covering the cost of an electronically controlled bed.

A voice-operated computer has already been provided by Cops and Computers for the Community. As soon as it's set up, the computer will give Ann an outlet to the world outside her small apartment.

A rolling table, like those that slide over a hospital bed, has yet to be purchased. Once it is, it will give the computer a sturdy home.

Many other wonderful people, several churches and at least one Red Hat Society have offered assistance. Several have volunteered to provide Ann's little family with holiday goodies.

At this point, the most convenient gift would be gift certificates or gift cards since Ann continues to be extremely vulnerable.

She appreciates the offer of visits but she only has so much energy. She also goes to therapy three days a week to improve her leg strength - and to learn survival skills such as being able to get out of bed and into a wheelchair if the apartment catches fire.

But even with such dark clouds hanging over her head, Ann continues to be thankful - and now immensely grateful.

``I just can't believe it,'' she says.

``I can't believe people are so very kind.''

I can.

My sincere thanks to you all.

Judy Hill can be reached at (813) 259-7812 or by writing her c/o The Tampa Tribune, P.O. Box 191, Tampa FL 33601.