Alicia Mixson

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Alicia Mixson’s story

"Our Other Hero"

Ann, CA On September 6, 2007 my great-nephew, Joseph "Catlin" was seriously injured in Iraq. He is a Hero in the truest sense of the word and our family is so proud of him. Catlin lost both of his legs and had serious injury to his left arm. He has been at the military hospital in San Antonio, Tx since he returned to the states. He has had many surgeries and faces more ahead. But he is not the only hero in this family. The family was told that someone would need to make a commitment to be Catlin's caregiver. His sister, my great-niece Alicia Mixson, volunteered to put her young life and career on hold in order to be that caregiver. She is living with him in San Antonio. She gets him to the many medical appointments, administers medication and does all the other things that a caregiver does. Alicia is demonstrating a love that most of us can only hope that we would have in that type of situation. This unselfish love would be a blessing to receive. So this story is really about the "other" hero in our family. Catlin is definitely a HERO that our country should always honor and support, and our citizens should never stop shouting accolades for. But, we should never neglect to recognize heroes that stand in the background, doing what needs to be done. Alicia is our HERO WITH ANGELS WINGS.

Charles Muller

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Charles Muller’s story

"Hope for the Hopeless"

Charles, NY Fighting hunger and abuse in America 13 years ago I moved to Albany NY to help reach out to hurting children who live in drug gang infested neiborhoods in Albany. I soon found out that 59%of these children were on subsidized lunches during the school year. So my question was who feeds these children when they are out of school and I took it upon myself to find out. During the first summer in Albany I decided to make 25 lunches and take them to the city park little did I know this was going to be the begining of a childrens feeding program that now feeds over 50,000 meals a year to inner-city children. Because of this one day I relized that in America there are children that go to bed hungry, This experience changed the rest of my life I decided to build a center that would be able to make meals for children who live in these area's that are challanged by poverty and drugs, The first feeding center was built on one of worst corners known for drug and gang voilance believe it or not this was the perfect place to be their were so many hurting children...

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Christina Maria Renga

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Christina Maria Renga’s story

"My Caregiver, My Daughter"

Anna, NJ Most people define a caregiver as someone who is middle aged, caring for their elderly parent. The definition of caregiver in my household is quite different. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 29, my daughter became my caregiver at the early age of 6. I found out I was pregnant at 27, and was happy to know that I was expecting a baby. However, my pregnancy became complicated when I started experiencing blurry vision and numbness in my arm, and the doctors told me that I might have an aneurism in my brain. It was only after getting an MRI did my doctors tell my family that I had MS. Five months later I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, my pride and joy and unbeknownst to me at the time, would become my caregiver...

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Gina Ervay

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Gina Ervay’s story

"What A Difference A Day Makes"

Corey, Kansas The year 2000 didn't bring chaos to our nation as predicted by the computer industry, but it did bring chaos to our family. When the chaos began to subside, I found a deeper love and respect for the woman I married and a new hope that she has brought to our family, our community, and to caregivers across Kansas through her dedication to support people with special needs and their families. This is our story.

As typical middle class Americans, my wife, Gina, and I were career focused, moving into a new house in the suburbs, and were expecting our second beautiful daughter. We were journeying through life full speed ahead on a course that was smooth and predictable. That was until God detoured us down a road less traveled, one with many curves, hills, and potholes. On a cold spring morning in April of 2000, our second daughter, Megan, was born. An hour later she was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and congestive heart failure. Our newfound journey thrust us into a world of surgeries, on-going physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and a plethora of specialists. To manage this regimen of intense care, Gina made the decision to leave her promising career and focus her attention on our daughter's well being. With the increase in our family's health care needs, it became necessary for me to take a job with less pay but better medical benefits. By the end of the year 2000, we were absorbing changes in all facets of our lives - family, career, lifestyle, and dreams for the future...

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Judy McAtee

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Judy McAtee’s story (submitted by her husband Pat)

"About Someone Who Cares"

Pat, IL Judy is the person you always hope you will meet when you need a boost. Your needs might be entirely different each time you need her, but you will be confident of one fact: that she is there, and the knowledge that she will care. You know this because it is her track record - of being there - always.

Judy is my wife and life partner of 33 years, whom I met on a blind date, and in whom I immediately saw the strengths that would be my source of strength for, what is now, more than half of my life. So I might be subject to at least a small amount of prejudice, but I'll let others be the judge of that. I might from time to time be guilty of claiming a partnership in her efforts as well, but truth be told, I'm just another admirer along for the ride. Qualities that others may read of in magazines or hear stories about on Oprah, are so genuinely bundled into who she is, that it is, at times, difficult to comprehend that you have the honor of enjoying the company of such a tower of strength. Counselor, advisor, mother, caregiver, volunteer, businesswoman, wife, lover, and friend; she could be the poster girl for anything wise and caring. And, while wisdom is her strong suit, somewhere just behind that must be stamina and intuition, for she digs deep into the well of such to provide the where-with-all for her daily needs...

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Karolyn Gentry

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Karolyn Gentry’s story

"Angels All Around Us"

Nicholas, ID There are angels all around us. They are just about everywhere, waiting in line with us at the grocery store, sitting by us at the movies, or with us in the car on a Saturday afternoon drive. Sometimes angels are hard to recognize because they may not be dressed in white, luminous robes with radiant wingspans, sporting a halo above their brow. Sometimes, they're dressed in blue jeans and tee-shirts, with only their shimmering actions to hint at their angelic nature. I have been gracefully blessed in my life to have been raised by one such person of angel status. Not raised by some divine being, but in that my mom is one of the most unconditionally compassionate and generally kind people I know...

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Lisa Lester

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Lisa Lester’s story

"The Life We Built Together"

Jeff, MO I want to nominate my wife, Lisa, on account of her incredible love and support for me and our family that was created despite some extremely severe physical limitations developing for me and dire predictions for my future life by the doctors involved in my care. We have overcome these seemingly insurmountable obstacles to create a beautiful and relatively normal family life mainly as a result of the fantastic dedication and strength of my wife. You see in 1993 at age 26, I was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and basically told to go home and plan my funeral, since I only had 2 to 5 years to live. Despite this bleak prediction for my future, my then girlfriend not only stuck by my side when many people are abandoned by their significant other but she went a step further by becoming my partner in fighting this disease. She said at the time, "I don't care if we have a month, a year or years together, but as long as you are here I will be by your side because I love you with all my heart and soul." We were married one year, nearly to the day, after I was diagnosed thus taking the anniversary of the worst time in my life and making it one of the best! Together we decided to live our lives as normally as possible and to take on each challenge my disease presented and minimize its effect on our lives. Part of normal meant starting a family of our own so in May 1995 our oldest daughter, Kelsey, was born...

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Mary Beth Lenzini

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Mary Beth Lenzini’s story

"A Whole Town to Care for April"

MaryBeth, Missouri In my sixty two years of life, I have been very aware of the value of care givers, having been one myself as a young girl for my mother who suffered most of my life before she died with cancer. I've witnessed spouses unselfishly caring for their ailing partners, being their shoulder to lean on when a stroke took away their sense of balance, providing basic personal care that no adult expects to give another adult, and I've seen countless adult children provide support for aging parents. In addition to aiding with everyday household maintenance chores such as cleaning out gutters, mowing lawns, cleaning houses, driving the folks to doctor appointments, and interpreting Medicare statements, these children provide emotional support and a sense of security for their parents. One assumes, I suppose, relatives will step up and be care givers for those to whom they have responsibilities and those they love the most. ...

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Rhonda Marie St. Louis

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Rhonda Marie St. Louis’s story

"A Twist of Fate"

Rhonda, AZ In 1992, my life crossed the path of an adorable toddler with big brown eyes named 'J'. At the time, I was employed and also attending college full time studying to be a special education teacher. While I was at work one day, I told a fellow co-worker that I was in need of someone with children (to try out a few learning activities I developed) for one of my class projects. This was when I was first introduced to J's mother, a single woman with four small children, surviving on public assistance and living in Section 8 Housing. We became friends quickly even though not only are there differences in our ethnic backgrounds and family dynamics, but even a larger distinction in our general way of life. Since I knew J would never have the opportunity to attend a quality pre-school, I began to volunteer several hours daily to organize what we called Sidewalk School - a makeshift preschool on a cobalt blue and beige woven blanket on the sidewalk as the neighborhood unemployed and individuals with severe substance abuse issues walked around us. When events became too dangerous for me to be there, I would pack up my things and get J safely inside his apartment. I read to him daily and we would do other fun early childhood activities as well. I kept a large cardboard box in the trunk of my ten year old car filled with books, puzzles, craft supplies, board games, and wooden blocks. Several times a month I would save up enough money to take him to places like the local zoo, puppet shows, museums and festivals. Our weekly trip to the public library to check out books became a routine. Many days, I was extremely physically tired from working and going to college, but I always found time to stop by and see J and read to him. Countless nights we would sit outside in the evening reading with just a light bulb hanging from a cord near the front door, lighting up the pages of the storybook...

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Wendi Baron-Willette

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Wendi Baron-Willette’s story

"The Most Precious Woman in My Life"

Keith, MA Caring is engrained in my wife, Wendi. It is her nature to empathize with others whether they are close family members or complete strangers. During her first marriage, Wendi, at the age of twenty-six, delivered Michael, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Surrounded by family and friends who wanted to console her in what they perceived was a sad time in her life, were amazed to find Wendi's true fighting spirit. She spent most of Michael's first year educating not only herself, but also others about Down Syndrome in an attempt to ensure that they did not feel uncomfortable. True to her nature she saw Michael as a child given to her by God because he knew she was able to provide him with the care that would ensure he met his full potential in life. Indeed Wendi continues care for a special boy who, at the age of sixteen, has turned into a fine young man. Wendi and I married ten years ago knowing that I had a degenerative eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa, which will eventually leave me totally blind. Although this was known and the effects had not caught up with me by the age of thirty three, I had no doubt that I would be in good hands when the inevitable happened. In 2000, I was denied renewal of my drivers license due to my vision....

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Denise Waller

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Denise Waller’s story

"Second Chance at Life, Our Story of Care"

Sharon, VA My name is Sharon and I am a pharmacy technician for CVS. Through my life of 60 years I had always heard that there were angels on earth to watch over us. I have had the rare chance to meet one when I met Denise. When Denise came to work with us you could tell immediately that she was a special soul. She was kind and soft spoken. She had a deep inner faith that few of us have. As all of us who have worked for the public, we know people can be cold and even cruel. After seeing Denise have to experience this at times, I was amazed to see how she would respond. She always had a smile, the kindness in her face and voice always came through. After becoming friends with her I learned of her love for God, her family, and her fellow man. Denise was not only an angel of words of comfort but in actions also. Our co-worker, Jenifer, had been sick for a total of two years. She had lived with diabetes since the age of 5. When the doctors finally determined her kidneys were the whole cause of her sickness they began treating her. Her kidneys deteriorated quicker than the doctors had ever seen...

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