Many of you know that our friend Joyce Aschenbrenner has been battling a number of health issues for the last eight months and she needs our help. It started with a broken back requiring surgery: then to rehab for two months where she also got COVID. Then it was discovered that the back had been rebroken, dislodging the pins holding it together. The back was also full of pseudomonas, a challenging bacteria requiring CDC oversight and antibiotics for many weeks before any further surgery could be done. Then acute kidney failure and AFib required further hospitalization. When she returned home, she had to go to dialysis for three days a week. Fortunately, they recently suspended the dialysis, and she is awaiting a second back surgery and dealing with edema (swelling) in the legs.

Needless to say, Joyce has also experienced our challenging healthcare system lacking in staffing, quality of care and timeliness yet with huge expense. She will need care after her second back surgery. Her strength has been amazing throughout. All of this plus regular pain is wearing her down as it would any one of us. Add to this, she lost a job she really enjoyed as the activities director at a senior living facility because of the inability to project a timeframe when she would be able to return to work. Because of her limited mobility she has a caregiver during the week and to take her to appointments since she can't drive, due to her back and lack of strength in both legs. She will need care after her second back surgery. Medicare and personal health insurance do not cover the caregiver nor the exorbitant prescription prices.

Her longtime friends remember how Joyce bravely fought melanoma 20 years ago and all of its treatments. She has been through so much and we can help lighten her burden with the mounting bills and depletion of her savings. As you can imagine, asking for help is difficult and awkward for her. Please consider sending some money to Joyce through this Go Fund Me.

For personal letters E-mail Rosa Gatti at [email redacted]

Think of how Joyce has brought us joy and laughter, and how much she has done for so many, whether publicizing athletes stories or raising funds for cancer research or brightening the lives of people and veterans in senior living. Please pray for her. Thank you and please forward to other friends of Joyce.

Love, Rosa Gatti, Jennifer Abdalla and Kathy Grgurich