Letter-writing might be a lost art, but for journalism major Izzy Mokotoff, it’s a tradition she shared for many years with her grandpa, Pops, who died in early December 2022.
While she was growing up in Atlanta, Mokotoff would receive letters from Pops every week. He wrote her from his suburban Boston home, sending recipes and notes on wild animals he’d seen and Mokotoff replied with updates about her studies. The two continued this tradition even when Mokotoff went off to college.
But near the end of her first year at Northwestern, Pops could no longer write by hand.
“Ten years ago,” Mokotoff explains, “he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease,” a debilitating central nervous system disorder that causes tremors and loss of motor skills. “Obviously, I missed our tradition. But I also know Pops had a lifelong love of writing. Though he was a veterinarian, he was the editor in chief of his college newspaper and wrote scripts for radio shows. This loss of ability was a knock to his sense of confidence and his sense of self.”
Eager to find a solution, Mokotoff teamed up with her sorority sister Alexis Chan, a biomedical engineering student. The two spent the fall of 2021 researching Parkinson’s and developing a special pen and clipboard that could help counteract the symptoms.
With support from The Garage and guidance and mentorship from the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mokotoff and Chan spent the summer of 2022 iterating on a prototype. Chan, who taught herself metal welding and 3D printing, built each pen set meticulously by hand.
By summer’s end, SteadyScrib was born. Pops became their first beta tester and loved the pen. He resumed writing his letters. Mokotoff and Chan filed a provisional patent with the U.S. government, and the pen sets are now available for physical and occupational therapeutic use at three Northwestern Medicine locations.
Editor’s Note: Neal “Pops” Charles Andelman died peacefully on Dec. 4, 2022. It was his wish that, as part of his legacy, SteadyScrib continues to grow and improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s.
Reader Responses
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. SteadyScrib is anticipating a release date as early as the end of 2023. You can join our waitlist and stay up to date by visiting our website, www.SteadyScrib.com. If you are in the Chicagoland area and want to try out SteadyScrib, email us at steadyscrib@gmail.com to arrange a time to meet on Northwestern’s campus. For those wondering, the pen set can be used by both left- and right-handed writers. Thank you again for your interest in SteadyScrib!
—Jamison Stout Evanston, via Northwestern Magazine
Please let us know when and where we can by one. Parkinson's has robbed my husband of his ability to write.
—Judith Miller Holley ’86 Lincolnwood, Ill., via Northwestern Magazine
A much-needed writing tool! Thank you so much for pursuing this with such passion. Parkinson's disease patients everywhere, including my own husband, may benefit. If you need more patient volunteers to test it, we live in the Chicago area.
—Susan Berman Hammer ’72 Deerfield, Ill., via Northwestern Magazine
I’m so happy and thankful to see what you have made — especially for your grandfather. May he rest in peace.
I’ve had Parkinson’s disease since 2004. I’m 68 years old. I would just like to apply to be able to purchase one when available. Thank you again.
—Rochelle “Sunshine” Roth McHenry, Ill.
As a person with Parkinson's who can no longer write legibly, this could be the answer. Does it work, or has it been tested, if you are left handed?
—Glen K Litchfield Park, Ariz., via Northwestern Magazine
I saw your feature on today's news in Chicago, and I immediately thought — you should try Michael J. Fox (retired, but might be willing to endorse your invention) or Noah Wyle (played a doctor so well on E.R. for several years AND attended Northwestern's Theater program when he was a young actor, just starting out. He also wrote a play, so is a writer).
I think getting help from somebody famous such as the above two actors might help you get some wonderful endorsements and perhaps even financial backing. Just an idea!
—Mary Zentmyer Chicago
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