Support for the Grinder and Cooper Family

Hi everyone, for those of you who know me, it may come as a shock to you to read all the things going on behind the scenes, since when you see me, I’m usually always smiling.

2024 and the beginning of 2025 have become quite trying months/years for my family and me.

I find myself at a loss for words for some of this, so please bear with me and know I am here to respond to any questions or concerns. My friends who have known me for a good portion of my life know it is hard for me to ask for help. I’ve always been independent and a firm believer I can do it all myself. The last year and a couple of months have shown me that that is not the case, and there is nothing wrong with asking for help.

My father was diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease in April of 2024 and is currently on hospice in the end stage of his life. As some of you may know, it is hard to watch your childhood hero become unable to care for himself and feel helpless as your mother transitions from wife/mother to sole caretaker. Day-to-day tasks become weighed down with the painful feelings about what is inevitable. These circumstances certainly put in perspective how quickly life can change and how no one is promised tomorrow.

Due to these circumstances, I previously decided to lower my hours at work to be able to support my mom and dad during this time. I am an only child, so I feel that it is my duty to be there and be as okay as I can be for them. I also wanted to make myself available because soon it will be on an emergency call basis when his time in this world is over. Furthermore, I am a firm believer that you need to allow yourself to grieve and not force it all down and pretend to be okay. For me personally, I do not think it would be healthy or doable for me to throw myself into more work to supplement money due to other circumstances. The best thing I can do is to make myself available to be there for them at this time and have personal time to grieve and work through this ultimate hardship.

In addition to my family being ripped apart by an incurable disease, my significant other David had an accident and broke both hands on April 10th. He received double hand surgery on April 16th at the St. Luke’s Anderson Campus, and we expect the medical bills will be showing up soon. During his surgery, Dr. Summariva repaired a torn tendon in the left hand as well. Due to this injury, he is expected to be out of work for at least 3 months and will need to do a small amount of physical therapy. However, we are eager and expecting a full recovery in the months to come! Dave is able to get some assistance with short-term disability through his employer. However, the insurance company legally has 45 days to complete his claim. David is the main income provider in our home, and this will be a heavy hit for us. Our main concern as a family right now is finances and emotional support.

Any donations received will be going to the portion of hospital bills Dave is responsible for, rent payments, monthly utility bills, groceries, and food for our pets (Ronin, Rambo, Astra, and Beanie).

Having healthy/comforting food on the table is also a main concern of mine. McDonald’s or pizza don’t heal broken hands! If you know me, you know I can’t really cook a meal besides chicken parmesan or breakfast for dinner, haha.

If this speaks to you, please reach out to me personally for any additional information.

The next few months will be a very difficult time for Dave as he struggles with not being able to work or do much for himself without the use of his hands. Please pray for comfort and peace for him as he is already getting restless. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers during this Easter holiday and in these upcoming months.

We are putting this out there for anyone who would be willing to help a family in need and know that anything and everything is appreciated beyond measure. We love and thank you all!