Visions of Eagles Celebrates Another Year of Caregiving

The facts warranted applause:

• recently reached $81,200 in donations.
• In 2011, Visions of Eagles donated about $22,000.
• About $14,500 has been donated in the first three months of 2012.

But it wasn’t those facts -- those numbers -- that drew the most impact during the homegrown, not-for-profit organization’s celebratory breakfast Friday morning at the in .

No, the biggest impact came when five Nazareth area residents stood in front of the microphone and told their stories, speaking of the impact Visions of Eagles has had on their lives.

The 501(c)3 organization, which was founded in 2008, provides temporary assistance to individuals and families living in the Nazareth area, including the borough, Stockertown and Tatamy and the townships of Lower Nazareth, Upper Nazareth and Bushkill.

According to Sally Jablonski, the non-profit's vice president and treasurer, the volunteers that make up Visions of Eagles “help individuals and families cross the bridge from despair to hope.”

Brenda Tigar, of Tatamy, felt that despair about four years ago when she was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and chronic pain disease.

She was confined to a wheelchair, and her home didn’t have a ramp.

“I had no direction to go,” she said. “Everything was crashing in at once.”

When Visions of Eagles came into her life, Tigar recalled, a ramp was installed within two to three weeks and a power scooter was dropped off.

“My life has changed dramatically,” she said, adding that she can now get around her house and her neighborhood. “I just can’t thank you enough.”

Ken Rupert, who resides at Nazareth’s Oliver C. Border House, thanked those in attendance for helping him pay for orthopedic shoes that are made for individuals with diabetes.

The shoes can cost hundreds of dollars -- Visions of Eagles paid for half of Rupert’s shoes.

When asked which half Visions of Eagles paid for, Rupert joked, “Half of both feet.”

Debra Requena, of Nazareth, talked of the excitement she experienced when she gave birth to her son Avery, now 7.

According to Requena, she felt like she had the motherhood thing down. But during Avery’s first year of life, she said there were more than enough trips to the emergency room to fill a lifetime.

“I didn’t know why I couldn’t be a mom to this child,” she remembered.

Avery was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

Avery was a bundle of energy and needed to be kept busy so he didn’t hurt himself and, as Requena remembered, drink Listerine straight from the bottle.

Requena found that occupational therapy and gymnastics were the perfect outlets for Avery, but because Requena wasn’t working full-time, she couldn’t afford to keep sending her son to gymnastics.

Visions of Eagles was called in to help.

“You helped fund three sessions of gymnastics,” Requena said. “Today, he’s in a typical school. He’s very typical, athletic and active. He no longer does things that get him hurt.”

Requena credits this positive outcome to the time Avery spent at therapy and gymnastics.

“I just wanted you to see who Avery was and who he is," she added.

Marci Bossard, of Nazareth, turned to Visions of Eagles when she felt like no one would listen to her.

In 2004, Bossard broke her ankle in three places and needed surgery. Her foot was in a cast for 16 weeks and a year later, she continued to experience problems with walking, sitting and standing.

When Bossard voiced her concerns and frustrations to the hospital that performed the surgery, those concerns and frustrations fell on deaf ears, she said.

Visions of Eagles helped Bossard connect with new doctors. She evetually received a second surgery and is continuing on the road to recovery.

“I would not be where I am today if it were not for the Visions of Eagles,” she said. “I have made a lot of really good friends out of this.”

After hearing the impact of the organization firsthand, Tom Fehnel, president of the board of directors, said it was "a tremendous privilege to share time with these individuals."

Fehnel added, "This is a very quiet organization. However, in a very quiet way, I think we have made a tremendous difference in the Nazareth community since October 2008."

If you know of an individual or family in need:

Visit: www.visionsofeagles.org
E-mail: visionsofeagles@live.com
Call: (484) 264-7505