Happy New Year from all of us at Independence Plus! As we dive full force into 2016, we continue to be reminded of all the blessings of 2015. The success stories we share on this blog give us hope and inspiration for the New Year, and remind us about what really matters: Providing people with complex medical and respiratory needs the opportunity to live fulfilling lives at home.
Please take a moment to read about some of our proudest moments of 2015:
Many things have changed for Lauren since WGN aired her story last fall. Not only has she exceeded her fundraising goal of $55,000, but Lauren already has the keys to her new wheelchair-accessible van that will comfortably take her to college later this year. Read Lauren’s story here.
Almost two years ago, we shared Maria’s story with you. Maria, who was 18 at the time, was getting ready to graduate from high school. Now 19, Maria is more confident and full of surprises! Maria continued to dream—and dream BIG! Last month, Maria began attending Morton College, taking the first step toward a degree in social work. Read Maria’s story here.
The “Super Schissler Sisters,” captured the hearts of their community. Their local community and church came together to host a benefit on their behalf—and the outcome was far beyond what this family ever expected! Sadly, Isobel died after the story was published but our memory of her is alive and well. Read the full story here.
Becoming Ventilator Dependent: A Personal Journey towards Acceptance
This guest blog post was written by Mary Jo Crihfield, M.Ed, M.S., CRC, age 33, who is one of Independence Plus, Inc.’s patients. Mary Jo is passionate about helping others, both in her professional and personal life, and wants to spread a positive message to others about living life being dependent on a ventilator. Read Mary Jo’s story here.
Paul’s Story: Living without Limits
Paul, age 8, took the trip of a lifetime last summer. Paul, his entire family, and three of his nurses, flew to Orlando to experience the wonderful world of Disney, thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Read Paul’s story here.
When Kayla was six and half months pregnant, she was diagnosed with preeclampsia. A few days later, KJ was born premature at 25 weeks. After almost a year and half in the hospital, KJ finally came home. To the delight of his parents, KJ is happier than ever and growing rapidly. Read KJ’s story here.
Lauren, age 19, has accomplished a great deal in her life—she graduated from high school, sings in the choir, and even received a scholarship and was accepted to college. Now, she’s adding “life coach” to her list of accomplishments. Read Lauren’s update here.
Choosing Lucas: A Second Child After Medical Complexities
When Andrew was decannulated and no longer required 24/7 Skilled Hourly Home Nursing, Jennifer and her husband started thinking about expanding their family. This is their story about how they made the decision to have another baby. Read Jennifer’s story here.
Saving My Brother’s Life: Exposing the Cause vs. Treating the Symptoms
The complaints and concerns voiced by Carol, our Vice President of Operations for Home Health and Home Nursing, recently saved her brother Neal’s life. She was determined to expose the cause behind her brother’s problems, as his health deteriorated in front of her own eyes. Read more about how she refused to allow the “healthcare establishment” to continue their practice of simply treating symptoms while the underlying cause continued to brew. Read the full story here.
Community Firefighter with ALS Fights for a Cure
“In some ways it’s a death sentence,” Dick begins. “But there are many ways to fight ALS. Look around me, there’s my g-tube, ventilator, diaphragmatic pacer… the list goes on.” Dick knows these interventions aren’t for everyone, but it’s his mission to make sure that everyone who is living with ALS knows what’s available to them. Read Dick’s story here.
To read more stories about our people, click here.
Which story is your favorite? Tell us here!