Sandee is the aunt, sister and friend that everyone wishes they had. Our family and her friends are blessed to have her in our lives.

Sandee is ‘That Aunt’ the one that, for three generations of nieces and nephews, has shown up to practically every ball game, dance recital, cheer competition, band & choir concerts and everything in between.

Sandee has dedicated time and energy to providing service and fellowship to her church community and other local organizations. Sandee has been honored to serve as a Eucharist Minister at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. It was also common to find her connecting with businesses to secure community donations for the church’s fall festival, working vacation bible school, and assisting with other events.

Sandee is outgoing and fiercely independent. She loves engaging with and helping her community. Sandee has also battled COPD for years.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a progressive lung disease that causes difficulty in breathing. Sandee’s COPD is severe. Being a progressive disease, the COPD has worsened over time. Even as it progressed, the COPD caused multiple, but temporary, setbacks each year. With the support of her medical team, Sandee would recover after each setback and be able to return to her normal daily activities.

This time, it is different. After spending numerous weeks in the hospital over the last few months, Sandee, her medical team and our family have realized that returning to her prior normal daily activities is not going to occur. With the guidance from her medical and palliative care team, Sandee is still figuring out what her new normal will look like.

As Sandee and our family navigate this change, it is clear that a number of immediate modifications to her home are needed to ensure that things, as basic as going upstairs to bed or getting to and from medical appointments, remain safe and attainable for her.

While we know there will be ongoing and ever-changing needs, the immediate hope is to secure the initial home modifications and support needed to give Sandee the dignity of basic independence. This includes the purchase and installation of an electronic stair lift chair, respiratory rehab therapy and help with transportation to and the resources for ongoing medical care.