Many of you know my friend Amanda Lower, possibly through her work with the Slicer Champions project in LaPorte Community School Corporation (now part of Family Advocates). She and her wonderful sister, Missy Jablonski, received awful news after a full day in the ER yesterday (2/7/25) that their mom, Julie Wegiel Wozniak, faces a long road of multiple surgeries and healing after a fall.

Julie is looking at a minimum of four surgeries going forward: a plate in her knee, wrist reduction for that dislocated fracture, and more to address her broken tibia and humerus along with both full shoulder and knee replacements. This is all upon early assessment and could change. Beyond that, she will need appointments with multiple specialists and a long process with rehab.

In addition to the medical bills that will be huge and are already beginning to pile up, her home will need modifications in order to accommodate her changed physical state when she gets back there. The minimum conditions that need to be met so far before she can be back in her house (according to a hospital discharge nurse) are: a wheelchair ramp in order to get into and out of her home, a bathroom with fixtures that will accommodate a wheelchair, and she will need a lift chair and bed. There are many other needs to be met in addition.

As Julie is alone, this is all very daunting both to her budget and because it is going to require time from Amanda's and Missy's jobs in order to help care for her. Julie is a beloved mom and grandma, just as Amanda and Missy are beloved friends and community members. Let's help ease them all through this time!