A call for help to support the Wenger family.

Dear friends, family and kind-hearted strangers,

On March 28th, while at home, Don suffered a stroke. He has been in the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit and Progressive Care Unit for nearly a month now and the medical bills are mounting.

Don Wenger is someone who always wanted to serve and help his community. This service to others started in high school when he signed up to be a Sheriff’s Office Cadet. After graduating from college, he started working for the Sheriff’s Office and for 31 years, Don helped the citizens of Sarasota County. He worked as a patrol deputy, a Major Crimes Detective and then as a Sergeant in the Intelligence Bureau. Now, Don is the one who needs help.

Don's family has always been his number one priority. He met Lisa, his wife of 30 years when they both worked at the Sheriff's Office. They have two adult children, Ryan and Tambra. Lisa has worked from home as a legal transcriptionist since her children were born. Lisa has been trying to keep up with the transcription, while still spending several hours every day with Don at the hospital, comforting him, talking to him and trying to get him to open his eyes. Every day, baby steps are made in the right direction, but this is going to be a long and hard journey back.

It is the hope of the Wenger family and friends that Don can be transferred soon to a specialty hospital, where he will continue to receive critical medical care as he works to recover from this devastating medical crisis, and eventually return home to his wife.

We are reaching out, on behalf of the family, to help ease the financial burden experienced during this difficult time so Lisa can focus on helping Don to recover and come home. Any amount – no matter how small – makes a difference. If you are unable to give, please send your prayers and positive thoughts to the entire Wenger family as they navigate their way through this crisis.

Thank you so much for your kindness and support.