Help Bettie Anderson Take Her Next Bold Steps

Hi! My name is Theresa Barnes. I am Bettie's first cousin, who loves her dearly. Growing up, she was "the big cousin" because of our age difference. As we have grown older and closer, the age difference "disappeared" and we have lots of fun and laughter whenever we are together.

 

To know Bettie Barnes Anderson, you would know that she has always been available in person or by phone 24 hours a day to help friends and family located in many states. She has provided advice, mentoring, encouragement, personal counseling, problem-solving, transportation, meals, financial assistance, Grandma hugs and kisses and anything else needed. Bettie is faced with the biggest challenge of her life, and she needs all of our help now.

 

One morning in early December of last year, Bettie discovered she had a problem walking because of extreme pain in her right foot. This was initially diagnosed as a broken foot. As her foot problem continued in January and February, she returned to the doctor and received an updated diagnosis of restricted blood flow vascular issues. Unfortunately, her condition progressed very quickly to gangrene and resulted in an above-the-knee amputation of her right leg on April 18th of this year. Bettie is currently in a rehab facility and progressing very well, but it will be a long recovery and transition for her. Bettie faithfully claims her “new journey” at 79 years old with just one leg. She is determined to continue to live her purpose-filled life and wants to enjoy many more years with her son and grandchildren.

 

Bettie needs your support to help pay significant extraordinary expenses not covered by her insurance. These expenses include daily co-payments at the rehab facility, medical transport fees to and from appointments with specialists and outpatient rehab when she returns home, adaptations to her home to enable her return and to provide limited personal assistance at home. Through this gofundme, we are hoping to receive financial contributions from her family, church members, friends, community and the many organizations she has been a part of. We have and continue to explore any social services support with only little success.

 

Here is a little about her life for those who may not know Bettie personally. Bettie, has been a phenomenal, fearless and energetic leader of many organizations and initiatives to benefit the health and welfare of her family, church, community and those in need nationally and internationally.

 

As a graduate of Hampton University, Bettie was well prepared to hold volunteer leadership positions in her church and numerous non-profit organizations and serve as President of the Board of Directors of Paterson, NJ YWCA and the Greater Paterson Opportunities Industrial Center (OIC). She is an influential civil and voter rights advocate who organizes and conducts voter registration drives and volunteers for political campaigns in the Hampton Roads area. At the age of 73, Bettie joined the Peace Corps in Africa to support women with AIDS, but had to leave due to a non-related illness.

 

Though she dedicated a significant amount of time to helping strangers, her commitment and caring for her family has been just as fabulous. She has raised one son, moved in with and cared for her elderly parents until they passed and has been a critical participant in numerous family celebrations. She is a loving Grandma to her teenage grandsons and granddaughter, who she is hoping to see graduate from high school and college and get married someday.

 

Please Give to help Bettie as she takes her next bold steps into a bright future. Let's support her as much as she has graciously supported others.