From Bridgemaker - to now. My service dog journey.
0% complete
$1,745 raised of $15K
22 donations
DeAnn’s life has always been about serving those who need a voice. For over six decades, she has built bridges of support for people, animals, and the environment. With a Master’s degree and professional interpreter certification, she has served as a bridge for the Deaf community, all while spending 18 years homeschooling her children.
Her passion for animal welfare led her to found and direct a parrot rescue for 21 years, where she cared for over 1,000 parrots and gave them a new lease on life. Throughout her life, she has established three separate nonprofits, running them all without a paycheck simply because she cared.
Just a few of the items she has made using throw-away materials
Her current nonprofit, Repurposed Treasures, Inc., turns trash into treasured art to support local needs and reduce landfill waste, continuing her lifelong mission of community service.
DeAnn’s resilience has been tested through years of caring for family members with Alzheimer’s, and she has never stepped back from her responsibilities. But today, she faces new and mounting challenges.
DeAnn lives with progressive, hereditary bilateral hearing loss, and has been legally blind in one eye since childhood.
This is a good representative of what DeAnn sees with her right eye.
This combination of dual sensory loss makes daily life increasingly difficult and, at times, unsafe.
- If she had a service dog, it would have notified her that someone was speaking to her.
- Another time people in a store were talking to her but she never heard them. A service dog would alleviate this problem.
Her hearing loss is currently categorized as moderate-to-severe and is steadily declining—a transition she has witnessed in many of her relatives over the years.
This loss has real-world consequences:
Recently, DeAnn dropped her coin purse in a parking lot and didn’t realize it until a stranger returned it; she hadn't heard him calling after her.
In another instance, she couldn’t hear that someone was speaking to her in a store, leading to confusion and discomfort. .
Both situations could have been handled safely with a trained service dog by her side to alert her to sounds and assist with navigation.
- Without a service dog she doesn't know if someone is in the restroom or the door is just locked
Oh, to have a pal to warn you of trouble!!
DeAnn has always been a giver, never asking for anything in return. Now, it is time for us—her friends, family, and community—to help her. By taking proactive action now, DeAnn can ensure this transition is managed with dignity. Being on a fixed income limits her to how much she can spend.
DeAnn and her trainer are looking for a young Mini GoldenDoodle. They are a medium sized dog and oh, so smart.
- Laura will be helping with training each step of the way. ..
We are raising funds to acquire and train a service dog so DeAnn can maintain her independence and continue serving others. She is planning to be around for a long, long time to enjoy seeing her 9 grandchildren grow up.
- 6 of the 9 grandkids plus the granddoggie.
If you can give, every dollar brings her closer to safety and freedom. It is often easier for people to join our "Coffee Club". Because Go Fund Me has a $5 mininum, if you can spare just $5 -$10 a month- the cost of just one fancy coffee- it provides the steady, predictable support we need to keep pressing toward the finish line. It is automatic, easy to cancel at any time, and makes a massive difference in the long run.
If you cannot give, please help by spreading the word. Your support means the world to DeAnn and to all of us who care for her. Thank you, and may you be blessed for your kindness.