John-boy's Place
was created in memory of John Gafford, who suffered the ravages of ALS for over
two years, eventually winning his battle on May 5, 2021 at the age of 61. As ALS
and other motor neuron diseases like to teach you, there is no limit to what can
be stolen from a patient, from basic motor skills to strength and balance in
major muscles to inevitably the muscles that you use to speak, swallow and
breathe. Other conditions, as well, take away the most basic abilities, leading
to a rather extreme need for accessibility. Diseases like ALS, Muscular
Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, PLS and so many others, including traumatic brain
injury with paralysis ALL have one thing in common as they progress - they steal
hope, joy, and peace from both the patient and anyone in their circle of family
and caregivers.
As we modify
John-boy's Place to be dedicated to complete accessibility, we sincerely
appreciate your donation, as it will allow us to complete necessary additions to
the already amazing home and grounds. Patients who fall into this category of
extreme need for accessibility will be able to go on a vacation with family, and
even extended family, and there will be no barriers to access, no spaces or
places where the patient will be "left out" of the fun or unable to join in
making memories. The home has great bones already, but needs bathroom
renovations, an outside lift, a ramp, and the icing on the cake will be an
accessible pier! These bricks that you are purchasing will be used to add a wide
and safe fire-pit area where even more memories can be made, and of course, the
patient can join in with no problem! In addition, John-boy's Place will be able
to accommodate up to 12 people, including the patient, so you really can bring
family and friends along to make new and special memories. The funds raised by
your donation will also enable us to complete the physical renovations and
arrange for the purchase of all necessary equipment to be kept in place at the
home, to include a hospital bed, hoyer lift, ceiling lift system for master
bedroom to bath transfers, reclining shower chair, and just about anything else
we can get our hands on to make this work.
As John's wife, and
his caregiver for months and months of agony and decline, I know all too well
how hard it is to BE the caregiver. My children and I did everything we could to
help John, love him and keep him safe and somewhat "happy", but the one thing we
could not do was take him out of the house to a peaceful, safe setting where we
could claim one last family vacation. The guilt and sadness that we felt when we
accepted this realization is something I promised John I would change, one
family at a time. John-boy's Place is beautiful, peaceful, serene, breezy, and
totally safe for the patient and caregiver to relax, to unwind and to make those
new and positive memories.
We are a nonprofit entity.
