Don & Lynn Copper - ALS Care Expenses

This fundraiser is for Don Copper and his wonderful wife Lynn, who have been married for 32 years and together for more than 40 years. They are a special couple who have either together or individually touched the lives of so many people. At HP Inc., Don is quite a legend and is credited for training many-a-new sales rep, supporting field reps, partners, and our customers over the past 17 years. Don is known for going above and beyond and always over-performing on goals.

Lynn worked for LexisNexis for more than 15 years as a software tester and has been very active in their community. During Covid-19 I remember Lynn was one of the first people I had heard of to volunteer her time and talents sewing masks for everyone who needed them at the local schools, within HP, and in the community at large.

After surviving many difficulties, including breast cancer and complications from cancer treatment, earlier this year Lynn was diagnosed with ALS Bulbar. This is a particularly aggressive form of the disease that first attacks the muscles used for speaking, swallowing, or breathing. There is no cure for this debilitating disease. Treatment is focused on keeping her comfortable, managing pain and providing higher levels of care as the disease progresses. The survival time from onset to death ranges from 20 to 48 months.

Some of you may already know that Don Copper has lived all his life with cerebral palsy and was advised by doctors to purchase a home with a lot of stairs because walking stairs are good conditioning for his stiff muscles, exaggerated spasticity and hips. Unfortunately, their multi-level home does not offer a main-floor entry with a bathroom and bedroom for Lynn, who will not be able to use the stairs going forward.

To-date, Don has installed chair lifts for their staircases which cost $10,000. That’s is just the beginning of their expenses to provide a space to properly care for Lynn.

The additional items needed to care for Lynn are as follows:

• Indoor and outdoor wheelchair lifts to get Lynn into the house

• Handicap bathroom and bedroom addition to main level of house

• Backyard excavation for house addition

The total expenses for these items amount to more than $200K. Don has withdrawn money from his retirement account to cover these initial costs to care for Lynn. In addition to these costs, there will also be ongoing in-home care-giving expenses as Lynn’s condition progresses.

Any amount you can donate will help them offset these costs and provide much needed emotional support. Each and every dollar will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity!

Blessings to you and your families.