Windchime Wishes Limited

On May 5, 2021, John Gafford won his difficult battle with ALS, leaving his wife Leslie and children Marylyn, Michael and Matthew to discover a new normal. Leslie and the kids are up for the task. They have big plans to begin Windchime Resources in honor of John. Windchime Resources will come with one very simple mission, giving other mobility-challenged families the one thing that John and Leslie could not make happen ~ a fully accessible, safe, well-equipped and peaceful retreat to make just a few new memories. While accessibility is required by law, there are countless details that, when not addressed, can make travel not only difficult, but dangerous for the mobility-challenged patient and their family. Leslie and the kids were forced to give up on taking that one last family vacation over a year before John died, because of the extreme needs of his ALS. So, insert US! Here we are, ready to get up and running to bring our vision to life. Windchime Resources will be the starting point for John-Boy's Place, a heavenly oasis bringing one last opportunity to families battling ALS or other neurological diseases. The house will be 100% wheelchair and ALS accessible, sitting on a lovely lake-front property. Windchime Resources will take care of all details related to care, including but not limited to hoyer lifts, lift chairs, fully accessible roll-in shower, fully accessible master bedroom with adjustable bed and a ceiling lift system installed between bed and bath, as well as connections to local resources for caregivers, skilled nursing, Hospice care and Spiritual care. Families will be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the tranquility of John-Boy's Place while turning small moments into important memories. 

HOW does your donation help? Leslie is starting this business from scratch, and the house she has found will obviously need modifications to create this truly accessible space and make it available for up to 10 to 12 people. No donation is too small OR too big!

WHY so many people? It's simple - this will likely be the last vacation with the mobility-challenged patient, so part of our goal is to allow whole family groups to gather together in one place, under one roof and experience day to day life in a peaceful setting, with the impacts of their loved one's disease process lessened by the careful attention to detail given to the whole home setting.


WHAT are we talking about?? Imagine a family of five, with grandparents still around, maybe cousins, in-laws, friends or other relatives who are important...imagine yourself as the caregiver to your husband, who has a terminal disease or a severe mobility challenge that is not reversible...the future is certain, and dark, time frame unknown...WHAT IF you could take your family to a tranquil space, with a view, where you might be able to enjoy fishing, grilling, kids playing ping pong under the house, music playing on outdoor speakers, a screened-in porch facing the lake, and best of all, your loved one can be a part of it all, at each spot, for every moment?

Trust me, if Leslie could have found this oasis, she would have been right there with her John-boy and their kids, maybe even John's parents or Leslie's sister, taking pictures and making memories before it was too late.