I met Brandie years ago when she was working for a girlfriend who owned another adult family home. Brandie filled in when I encountered absenteeism, was here for me to help with residents that required intensive care and even helped with heavy-duty housecleaning.

Since then we have become best friends. Brandie covered my home, refusing pay, when I got married. She was selflessly available when my husband was succumbing to cancer.

She has the ultimate in common sense. She is nurturing, articulate, hard working, intelligent, compassionate and classy. She embraces all that every care giving facility seeks.

Brandie was managing another adult home in 2001. An elderly woman named Sue came to inspect the facilities and decided that was where she wished to reside. Brandie was impressed with Sue’s sense of humor and fun, her personality, and the fact that she was so darned likeable!

Sue lived in this facility for two years. In December 2003, the owner decided to retire and sold the home.Sue was given four weeks to find another residence and requested the owner's assistance with relocation while she spent two weeks in California with her family.

Sue returned from California, moved into her new home and had been there two weeks when Brandie surprised her with a visit. Sue was elated, through her tears, to see Brandie, and could not stop crying -she had cried continuously for two weeks. She told Brandie that she "would rather die than live there another day." It was with great sadness that Brandie left her.

Brandie decided on her way home that Sue would move in with her, her husband and two little boys. Sue couldn’t wait. Brandie handled the state, the inspections and ensured that Sue would move in promptly. Brandie would only get paid for a fraction of the time spent caring for Sue, 48 hours a month while Sue needed care 24 hours a day.

Sue did move in, and Brandie made sure she had her 20 meds four times daily; oversaw her sliding scale insulin, managing to get Sue's blood sugar under control. Brandie also arranged for Sue to have dialysis 2-3 times a week, including transportation. Because of Brandie's love and support, and the efforts made to give Sue the complete care she needed with dialysis and the monitoring Sue's health, Sue was informed that she was a candidate for a kidney transplant. At this writing she is recovering in a local hospital and is awaiting return to her new family.

Brandie, thank you for all you do. Sue is proof of appreciation for your deeds.