Help Build a Visually-Impaired Accessible Addition

Our dear friend Valerie Lovelace is going blind and needs your help. Val has a son and daughter-in-law to walk this journey with her, and they want to build an addition to their home specifically designed for Val as her vision diminishes. But, being working parents of two small children, they do not have the finances to build. Unfortunately, Val was hit hard in the 2008 financial crisis and needed to dip into her savings to survive.

Val has helped many people throughout her life - she is an honorably discharged veteran, a certified inter-faith chaplain, and has dedicated years to passing the Maine Death with Dignity Act in 2019. She still serves as the organization's Executive Director and works with patients and families at the end of life. Val has paid it forward to hundreds of patients, family members, and other advocates throughout her life. And now, we have the opportunity to return the favor.

Val's Story

Val was diagnosed about five years ago with a degenerative eye disease known as pathologic myopia following a spontaneous retinal crack in the central visual area of her left eye. This disease causes stretching and atrophy of internal eye parts, leading to scarring, cracking, and irreversible vision loss.

Because the disease has been particularly aggressive in Val's case, she no longer has central vision in her left eye and is now experiencing visual degeneration near the center of vision in her right eye. She experiences visual distortion, "flashing lights," light sensitivity, and eye pain.

Val regrettably left work in May 2022 and had to stop driving in November 2022.

Unfortunately, there are no treatments or interventions to stop the progress of this disease or reverse the damage that has already occurred.

The progressive nature of Val's eye disease means she will soon be unable to live independently. To that end, she and her son, Travis, hope to raise the money needed to build an addition to his home about an hour and a half from where Val currently lives.

Plans include a specific layout for someone with little to no vision -- a small apartment (bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, and living space) with an adjoining utility room connected to one end of Trav's small ranch-style home.

The build is estimated between $130,000 and $150,000 start-to-finish, including costs to upgrade existing septic and electrical and prepare the property for building (a large retaining wall, drainage, and fill are required to level the property for the addition). To break ground this year, Val needs to raise the first $50,000 by August.

This home would dramatically improve Val's life trajectory and empower her to continue to live as independently as possible in a safe and comfortable home -- something we all deserve. Please join us in making this necessary vision a reality for our dear friend!