Jennifer Wheelock - A Dedicated Daughter

Jennifer Wheelock has been one of our dearest friends for nearly 40 years, and as we’ve grown up together, we’ve seen her become someone who has left us in complete awe. Her mother, Norma Wheelock, was confined to a wheelchair for over 50 years due to Muscular Dystrophy, long outliving her life expectancy. Norma raised her two children from a wheelchair and taught them to appreciate the things in life that others take for granted. No matter how tough a day, she always provided her children with love, care and concern, words of encouragement and advice. She couldn’t walk but taught everyone to face the challenges of life one step at a time. Norma was a people magnet. She was “radiant” and was the poster girl for all things worth celebrating – faith, family, kindness, joy, humor, and resilience. She has endured unthinkable heartache and remained loving, gracious and open to all who needed her. She was everyone’s hero, and she is now everyone’s angel.

Throughout the years, her daughter Jennifer dedicated her life to being her mother’s advocate for everything related to her health. Eventually, things became so challenging that Jennifer chose to leave her career to become Norma’s full-time, 24/7 caretaker. Without the ability for Norma to leave her chair, Jen spent most of her time tending to her needs, ensuring she was properly fed, dressed, entertained, and cared for throughout the day. Her condition progressed as she aged and was completely immobile, leaving Jennifer to do everything, including scratch her every itch. Jennifer is the most selfless person anyone could ever meet, and never complained about her decision to act as her mother’s feet, arms and hands on a regular basis for more than 20 years. They were each other’s everything – If you saw Jen, your first question was, “how is mom?” and each time you asked, you could see the pure exhaustion permeating from her, yet, she smiled and never uttered a negative word about her position.

Over the course of the last few months, Norma contracted Covid, which led to a series of complications, including sepsis, and she passed in peace surrounded by her family but leaving Jen in a position to have to start over. This page was started in an effort to allow us all to help Jennifer do just that – start over. Any donation is much appreciated, and it could not be given to a more wonderful human being.

Our hope is that your support will help Jen start her new life and will assist with the basic cost of living expenses.