Dear friends and fans of Tony Sansone,

We hope that you are all well after what has been a very challenging year for us all. If you know our father, Tony, then you are most likely aware that he had a very serious stroke in December of 2019, and that he was not able to return to his home in Meridian, MS after this event. Immediately after the stroke, he was helicoptered to University Medical Center in Jackson, MS where he spent 3 weeks in the ICU, and was then transferred to Emory Long-Term Acute Care in Decatur GA where he spent 3 months in rehab. In April 2020, just as the pandemic was unfolding, we were able to have him discharged from the hospital and he has been living in GA with his daughter Kristan, with his daughter Danielle living close by. It has been a long road for Tony, but we are happy to say that he is in good health and is in good spirits considering all that he has been through. We are very lucky in the fact that Tony’s mind, memory, and personality are all very much intact after such an event…Tony is very much with us in that way. And though, with a lot of hard work, he has made much progress physically, the reality is that he is still not able to walk. In the last several months he has become strong enough to spend several hours a day out of his bed, and in his wheelchair, and has even been able to go on a few outings away from the house, outside of doctor visits. A trip to his daughter’s house for a birthday celebration, and a holiday trip with his family to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens lifted his spirits IMMENSELY after being mostly in one room for an entire year. If you know Tony at all, you know that he is not a man who likes to sit still! Tony has spent his entire life being “out-and-about” and interacting with people. To say he has been an actively social person is an understatement! So as we have seen how beneficial these few outings have been for him, we would like to make this a more regular occurence as the world starts to open up again, and the weather turns nice in the Spring and Summer of 2021. We feel that this will be the essential next step in his progress, and will boost his spirits and quality of life.

The only way to make this a reality is to purchase a conversion van equipped to accommodate a wheelchair. As this will be an out-of pocket expense, on top of the ongoing out-of-pocket expenses to cover his daily in-home care, we thought this would be an opportunity to invite his friends to help. Many have asked about a way to get involved, and we know that this is a way that would have fast and impactful results. So far, any outing out of his daughter’s house has required a 2-day van rental, and this is just too expensive to sustain. So he needs his own vehicle to make this work. Tony is a man who loves to be among people, music, nature, attending concerts and enjoying interaction. These donations will make this a possibility for him.

Thank you for taking the time to read, and we will keep you updated as we work toward our goal. And as Tony loves to hear from his friends both old and new, please feel free to send a personal message along if you are able to donate.

Sincere thanks from the Sansone family.

Take care and be well.