Voices for Independence

Dan Hanson, surrounded by his children, from left, Alyx, 17, A.J., 21, and Ashlee, 19, at their home in Erie on June 17. Dan suffered a stroke of the spinal cord 17 years ago that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Six years after that his wife died of a viral infection. A.J. nominated Dan as a super dad for his efforts raising three kids. GREG WOHLFORD / ERIE TIMES-NEWS

"One thing I learned from my dad is every down point makes you stronger and creates who you are. 20 years ago my dad was left paralyzed from the waist down from a freak incident. 6 years later my mother passed away from illness leaving him... a single parent with 3 young kids. Instead of giving up he became stronger than ever. While we were in grade school he graduated college and became the girls basketball coach and athletic director at Holy Family. Yet he still found time to make dinner every night and help with homework. Once the 3 of us were in high school he attended every sports event and became an EYSA area director. With 2 in college and 1 more in high school he still pushes us to excel in everything we try. Thank you 'Captain Dan'."
Submitted by: A.J. Hanson

Name:

Trina L. Simpson

VFI Spokesperson:

Lisa Shuffstall

Involvement:

Nursing home transition consumer

Impact:

Returned from near-death experience to be able to raise daughter again

Before Voices for Independence:

Trina L. Simpson developed a multitude of medical problems during her life. But at age 49, her life was unrecognizable from anything she’d ever imagined. A series of surgeries and complications left her in a nursing home. For 9 of the 15 months she was a patient, Simpson lay in a semi-conscience state. She was unable to move or communicate and was deemed incapable of making health decisions. Her prospects were so grim, her family sold her home, lost her belongings; and she lost control of her daughter and her life. At the most dire moment in nursing home, Simpson remarkably began to recover. She went from bed-bound and unresponsive to communicating and walking without the use of any devices.

After Voices for Independence:

Defying odds in a nursing home, Simpson’s guardian, her sister, gave her responsibility over her current state, and what was left of her assets. Motivation came from a hope to one day parent her 10-year-old daughter again. She sought to turn her life around. Lisa Shuffstall of VFI, came upon Simpson’s Office of Long-term Living’s minimum data set list’s file. Unknowing of her options, Shuffstall worked constantly with Simpson to find a way for her to live independently. Through Act 150, she was discharged on Feb. 9, 2009 to live on her own. Shuffstall credits Simpson with unbelievable determination. She hopes one day to regain custody of her daughter but believes her current situation is a ‘life-changing’ success as it is.