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Parkinsons and Cancer- Caring 4 the Caregiver

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I have been a close friend of Joanna and her family since high school.  I have had many opportunities over the last 5 plus years to witness all that Joanna must do being a caregiver 24 hours day/ 7 days a week for her parents- and although Joanna jokes and brushes it aside, she has given up a lot to be a full time caregiver.  She loves the memories she has created and finds she would do it again in a heartbeat if she had to but life definitely keeps trying to knock them down.  Although her mother has passed, she continues to be the only caregiver for her father that has advanced stages of Parkinson's and has now been diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer that requires traveling to Mayo hospital in Rochester, Mn from their home in Grand Forks, ND.  Joanna is 100% committed to continuing the care for her father but the costs of caring for a family member full time for many years have strained their funds to close to non-existent. People may not realize that she gave up a rewarding career in training, a home she owned, a car she owned, dating, and her retirement and savings to move home at the request of her parents to care for them in their home as they both so wished to stay in their family home.  She tried to work part time to bring in a little money to help their situation but her father's care needs now make it that even part time work is not an option.  The family home has needed much in repair, her father requires special equipment to be cared for in the home (lift chair, hospital bed, special shower bars, walker, cane, I-pad for communication, light utensils and plates, special meals to try to help gain weight and special meals for when his ability to swallow is being effected.  Part of the reason her father has done so well with his progressed stages of Parkinson's is that Joanna faithfully helps keep him active with voice practice, exercise, Rock Steady Boxing at their local YMCA, routine Dr. exams, pool billiards, and hockey trips that bring Al the most joy because they are part of his past that he loves.  To people that don't know the behind the scenes work, Joanna makes it look easy but it is anything but easy! Trying to keep a balance for Al between independence, value of life, respect, healing of the past, hope for tomorrow, planning where Al needs to be and what he needs to get there and care for when his body decides it's in full power ahead mode to his body is going to crash in 10.23 seconds mode.  There is no off or vacation days.  There is no sick days.  But every night she  relishes those moments where she can get her dad to go to sleep with an unchecked giggle, a smile on his face and love in his heart.

The next trip to Mayo will start July 24th for 10 days.  The plaque radiation Al will receive is rare.  The trips will be frequent and their car is not in good shape.  My original thought was I wanted to find a way to get a vehicle donated that is safe, reliable, and will be trouble free, fit Al's wheelchair, is of the right height so that Al can get in and out so that Joanna doesn't have that worry also.  I didn't know how to accomplish that in such a short time,  so that's where the Go Fund Me idea was born.  Please donate what you can- the bills are only going to grow especially with this new cancer journey in addition to the Parkinson's.  Al's a fighter and has told Joanna he has 12 more years of tormenting her in him.  Lets donate to a fund so Joanna can let Al do just that.  Joanna has given everything she has to care for each of her parents to be able to live out their dreams.  Please if you can, share this post and make everyone have the chance to read about a daughter's unconditional love and care for her parents and the opportunity to help keep that love and care going.  If you would like to send a card of encouragement,  I can give you Joanna's address.  May you have a great day and help spread joy. If you've read this far, Windy 2 thanks you

Organizer and beneficiary

Tammi Hagness Hoeger
Organizer
San Tan Valley, AZ
Joanna Pearson
Beneficiary

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