A Wish for My Sister & her Husband

My name is Dawn and I’m asking for your help.  My sister Debbie was diagnosed about four years ago with Alzheimer’s at the age of 53.  As if that wasn’t enough, she was also diagnosed with Ataxia which means loss of coordination.  Debbie lacks voluntary coordination of her muscle movements. This means she is losing control of the muscles in her arms and legs and has difficulty with her balance.  There are so many things she can no longer do for herself but continues to smile and laugh through it all.

Ataxia and Alzheimer’s has left my sister disabled.  She gets really tired and has to nap once or twice a day.  This is so hard to witness as my  sister has always been such a hard worker.  She put herself through college while working at the same time.  She was always the one you wish you could be.  She was Homecoming Queen, a member of NHS, track star, and cheerleader all while keeping her feet on the ground, being kind to others.  She married her high school sweetheart, Bill, and together they raised two beautiful children.  Until Debbie’s diagnosis she worked full-time and managed to put in multiple hours as a Cheerleading coach. Bill, my brother-in-law, is truly an earth angel!  The way he looks at Debbie, talks to her and treats her with the same love, respect and dignity he did when they met in high school and fell in love.  Bill served twenty years in the Navy, retired and had been working two jobs until Debbie’s diagnosis.  He has had to leave one of the jobs to care for Debbie.  He faces each day just as Debbie does, with a smile on his face!

Here is where your help comes in: Their financial situation is not at all what is was with Debbie unable to work and Bill giving up one job to be with Deb.   Each day, Bill sees his wife of 38 years, his best friend, his everything slowly slip away.  Debbie’s balance and coordination has worsen and now her vision is starting to be affected.  My wish for them would be to send them on vacation to a place of their dreams.  Knowing that Debbie’s ability to travel is becoming limited, I am hopeful that I can make this dream a reality as soon as possible. I am asking for donations of any amount to help set up a travel fund for Bill, Debbie (and maybe even their two children) to take a trip where Bill and Debbie can share time together in a more relaxed environment and where they can spend time focusing on each other and sharing their memories.  

Debbie is more than just a sister, she was a mother figure and my protector when we were very young after my mother passed away.  It was just me and Debbie as Dad worked and was not home often.  I remember her making Hamburger Helper for us for dinner, or grill cheese sandwiches.  Once in awhile we would take some of our 50 cent pieces our Great Uncle Bill had given us and I would ride my banana seat bike to the commissary on base for burger and fries.  We eventually ran out of our 50 cent pieces but I have those memories.  Memories my sister, unfortunately, will not remember.  

I humbly ask if you can donate, please donate.  Any amount would be  appreciated.   If you cannot, I totally understand and ask if you could forward my wish onto your friends and family and say a prayer for my sister and brother-in-law.   Perhaps you know someone from an airline or travel agency that could help!  Better yet, a doctor with a miracle cure!

I don’t know two people more deserving of this once-in-a-life-time vacation.  

I thank you for your consideration!