Be a DEER friend and help Jean !
Donation protected
UPDATE: Jean has been released from the rehabilitation facility and has returned to his home in Westwood! It appears that Jean will be approved for Medicaid coverage which will give him the Home Health Aide hours he now requires. The Medicad application and implementation process takes approximately 4 months... Jean still requires a home health aide 44 hours a week for the next four months. The average cost for that care is $25.00 per hour. We have a revised goal of $17,600.00 and are more than halfway there!! Thank you to those who have already donated..the Deer family is overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity that has been bestowed upon them...Please share and spread the word...
My name is Kim Hampton-Saul and I am writing to request your support for the resilient Jean Deer and his amazing family; wife Ellen, daughters Trine, Erika and Kristine.
You may recognize his name as a longtime Westwood resident or recall the Jean Deer Photography storefront window displaying his iconic work.
Perhaps you know him as the husband of Ellen, who works two jobs, 6 days a week, or the father of three beautiful, community oriented and creative women, one of which is our dear friend Erika. You may know him as the grandfather of adorable Shane and Colleen Kelley, as well as his future granddaughter, Baby Wagner.
I know him as all of these and more. Jean was a local businessman with my father, and a family friend and neighbor to my extended family. When I was 5 or so my mother wanted formal portraits, so she of course brought us to Jean's studio on Westwood Avenue but Jean had another idea..he took us outside, to the park, where he visualized a collage of photos of me in the serenity of nature.
He was forty years ahead of his time. These are just like the outdoor photos that are so popular today. Jean was the photographer for my family events. He captured moments of my life in the same way his daughter continues to do for so many of us and our own families.
Tragically this came to an end on May 31, 1997 when at the young age of 56 he suffered a massive stroke.
His family was told he would not survive and Jean received Last Rites on 3 separate occassions. Today, 20 years later he has walked two daughters down the aisle, enjoys time with his two grandchildren and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his third grandchild !
As a result of his stroke, Jean lost the use of the right side of his body. He is also severely aphasic.
Aphasia is the loss of speech, but not to be mistaken with the loss of intellect. He comprehends everything, but is unable to verbalize his thoughts, needs and feelings. His wife and 3 daughters have so beautifully and selflessly managed his daily care and needs. It is nothing for them to leave a social event or work to ensure their father has lunch while their mother is working one of her two jobs. And there is so much more we do not know. Ellen and his girls do not complain or wallow..they do and then they do more. Ellen herself suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis which is currently managed by a regime of intense medications.
WHY NOW?
Jean was recently hospitalized due to an unknown severe pain in his leg. After multiple tests and a lengthy hospital stay, it was determined that Jean suffered from a hemotoma in his thigh as well as an infection in the bone of his foot. Unfortunately during his hospitalization pathology reports revealed that he had developed MRSA. During this time, his devoted wife Ellen became sick and their daughters split up the round the clock coverage to be present for their Dad. Being aphasic, Jean cannot communicate with the doctors, nurse and aides that are in and out all day and night. One of them stays with Jean 24 hours a day to ensure that he has a voice and that his needs are met. They are his voice. Jean is currently in a rehabilitation facility and will return home upon his completion. This event has resulted in the need for daily skilled care for Jean.
He now requires a Home Health Aide 6 to 8 hours a day. The average cost is approximately $25 per hour, $200 a day, $1400 a week and approximately $72,000 a year.
The family is pursuing a variey of resources. However, as a social worker, I am well aware that resources are limited. Medicare does not cover the expense of Home Health Aide hours. Jean and his family wish for him to remain in his own home. It is important to note that average cost of a skilled nursing or assisted living facility is approximately $10,000 a month, which is also not covered by Medicare.
While we are hopeful and positive, we are realistic in knowing that Jean's care needs will only increase.
Our goal is to provide a year of Home Health Aide hours for Jean and his family. Our goal is $72,000.
Jean is a Veteran who has given to his country, but ineligible for VA benefits. Jean and his family continue to give so much to our community. It is our turn to help them. It is times such as these that I find comfort in my roots and residence in the Pascack Vally Community.
We are a community of togetherness that rallies around their own. Please help me support the Jean Deer Family. Please help to ensure that Jean receives the skilled care he needs while keeping him safe and his dignity maintained in his own home.
Your donation will be life altering and so much appreciated by the Deer Family and those who love them. Please note that if an unforeseen circumstance were to occur and these funds were no longer required and/or the funds exceeded what was needed the family will donate to the Adler Aphasia Center.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, your generosity and support.
My name is Kim Hampton-Saul and I am writing to request your support for the resilient Jean Deer and his amazing family; wife Ellen, daughters Trine, Erika and Kristine.
You may recognize his name as a longtime Westwood resident or recall the Jean Deer Photography storefront window displaying his iconic work.
Perhaps you know him as the husband of Ellen, who works two jobs, 6 days a week, or the father of three beautiful, community oriented and creative women, one of which is our dear friend Erika. You may know him as the grandfather of adorable Shane and Colleen Kelley, as well as his future granddaughter, Baby Wagner.
I know him as all of these and more. Jean was a local businessman with my father, and a family friend and neighbor to my extended family. When I was 5 or so my mother wanted formal portraits, so she of course brought us to Jean's studio on Westwood Avenue but Jean had another idea..he took us outside, to the park, where he visualized a collage of photos of me in the serenity of nature.
He was forty years ahead of his time. These are just like the outdoor photos that are so popular today. Jean was the photographer for my family events. He captured moments of my life in the same way his daughter continues to do for so many of us and our own families.
Tragically this came to an end on May 31, 1997 when at the young age of 56 he suffered a massive stroke.
His family was told he would not survive and Jean received Last Rites on 3 separate occassions. Today, 20 years later he has walked two daughters down the aisle, enjoys time with his two grandchildren and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his third grandchild !
As a result of his stroke, Jean lost the use of the right side of his body. He is also severely aphasic.
Aphasia is the loss of speech, but not to be mistaken with the loss of intellect. He comprehends everything, but is unable to verbalize his thoughts, needs and feelings. His wife and 3 daughters have so beautifully and selflessly managed his daily care and needs. It is nothing for them to leave a social event or work to ensure their father has lunch while their mother is working one of her two jobs. And there is so much more we do not know. Ellen and his girls do not complain or wallow..they do and then they do more. Ellen herself suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis which is currently managed by a regime of intense medications.
WHY NOW?
Jean was recently hospitalized due to an unknown severe pain in his leg. After multiple tests and a lengthy hospital stay, it was determined that Jean suffered from a hemotoma in his thigh as well as an infection in the bone of his foot. Unfortunately during his hospitalization pathology reports revealed that he had developed MRSA. During this time, his devoted wife Ellen became sick and their daughters split up the round the clock coverage to be present for their Dad. Being aphasic, Jean cannot communicate with the doctors, nurse and aides that are in and out all day and night. One of them stays with Jean 24 hours a day to ensure that he has a voice and that his needs are met. They are his voice. Jean is currently in a rehabilitation facility and will return home upon his completion. This event has resulted in the need for daily skilled care for Jean.
He now requires a Home Health Aide 6 to 8 hours a day. The average cost is approximately $25 per hour, $200 a day, $1400 a week and approximately $72,000 a year.
The family is pursuing a variey of resources. However, as a social worker, I am well aware that resources are limited. Medicare does not cover the expense of Home Health Aide hours. Jean and his family wish for him to remain in his own home. It is important to note that average cost of a skilled nursing or assisted living facility is approximately $10,000 a month, which is also not covered by Medicare.
While we are hopeful and positive, we are realistic in knowing that Jean's care needs will only increase.
Our goal is to provide a year of Home Health Aide hours for Jean and his family. Our goal is $72,000.
Jean is a Veteran who has given to his country, but ineligible for VA benefits. Jean and his family continue to give so much to our community. It is our turn to help them. It is times such as these that I find comfort in my roots and residence in the Pascack Vally Community.
We are a community of togetherness that rallies around their own. Please help me support the Jean Deer Family. Please help to ensure that Jean receives the skilled care he needs while keeping him safe and his dignity maintained in his own home.
Your donation will be life altering and so much appreciated by the Deer Family and those who love them. Please note that if an unforeseen circumstance were to occur and these funds were no longer required and/or the funds exceeded what was needed the family will donate to the Adler Aphasia Center.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, your generosity and support.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kim Hampton-Saul
Organizer
Hillsdale, NJ
Trine Deer
Beneficiary
