In Support of Elaine & Dave Hoppe

We've asked our parents the same question more times than we can remember:  

"Will you let us help?" 

The answer has usually been some version of: 

This time, they said yes.

Our Mom and Dad, Elaine and Dave Hoppe — or Lainey and Peepaw to our family and many of the people who know and love them — recently celebrated an incredible milestone: 50 years of marriage. For half a century, they've built a life together. They've raised a family, made lifelong friendships, celebrated countless good times, weathered difficult ones, and through all of it have done what they've always done:

They've taken care of each other. And a whole lot of other people along the way.

If you've known our family for any length of time, there's a good chance you've spent some time at Hoppe Haven.  That's what our home became known as over the years. And honestly, it says a lot about who Lainey and Peepaw are. 

Hoppe Haven was never just their home. It was the place where the door was open, people were welcomed, and there always seemed to be room for one more. 

And for those who know, you know... 

The Hoppe Haven neon light... 

The parties. The stories. The laughs. And probably more than a few nights that turned into memories we'll be talking about for the rest of our lives. 

But what made Hoppe Haven special was never really any of those things. 

Our parents have always been incredibly giving people. Throughout their lives, they've shown up for family, friends, neighbors, and people who simply needed someone. 

They never did those things expecting anything in return. 

That's just who they are. 

And over the past few years, life has asked an awful lot of them. 

Our Mom has been through a long and complicated medical journey.

What began as a series of health challenges eventually became something much bigger. Her strength and mobility declined. Things she has done independently her entire life became difficult. There were setbacks, unanswered questions, and periods when none of us knew exactly what the road ahead was going to look like.

Eventually, we got an answer.

Lainey was diagnosed with CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy), a rare neurological disorder that affects the nerves and can cause significant weakness and loss of mobility.

She began receiving IVIG treatment. And after everything she's been through, we've finally started seeing something our family has desperately wanted to see:

Progress. 

She's started using a walker. She's working toward greater mobility and independence. She's continuing treatment. Even with amazing progress, Lainey continues to need support for eating, getting out of bed, going to appointments that are vital to her improvement, and learning how to walk again. 

There is still a road ahead of her, but for the first time in a while, we're able to spend more time thinking about what recovery might look like. We want to give her every opportunity to keep moving forward.

Through Lainey's medical journey, our Dad has been right there beside her, being her primary caregiver. 

That's Peepaw. 

For 50 years, they've been an inseparable team. But now, just as Lainey continues working toward recovery, Peepaw is facing a significant medical challenge of his own. 

He needs lumbar spine surgery. 

That means surgery followed by a period of healing, physical limitations, and recovery. 

At the same time, Lainey still needs considerable support herself.

That's where we are today. 

And it's why, as their sons, we're asking for some help. 

When we started this campaign, we set an initial goal of $30,000 to help Lainey and Peepaw through this period when their care and recovery needs overlap.

Thanks to an extraordinary response from family, friends, and this community - we reached and surpassed that initial goal in less than one week!

We are incredibly grateful.

As we look ahead, we also know their needs won’t end with this first milestone. Dad’s surgery and recovery are just beginning, Mom continues working toward greater strength and independence, and there are still many unknowns surrounding the level of support they may need in the weeks and months ahead.

We’ve now set our next milestone at $50,000. Every additional dollar gives us more flexibility and stability to make sure Mom and Dad have the care and support they need as circumstances evolve.

We're doing everything we can to understand and use programs and benefits available to them. But those resources don't necessarily cover everything a family needs when two people require help at the same time. 

There are gaps.

 

The money raised will help us fill those gaps and provide support through their treatment and recovery, including:

Because their needs may continue to evolve, every contribution beyond this milestone will provide additional stability.

We're not expecting this to solve every challenge ahead.  What we're trying to do is make sure Lainey and Peepaw can get the care they need, when they need it.

For Lainey, that means having the support to continue getting stronger and building on the progress she has already fought so hard to make.

For Peepaw, it means being able to have his surgery and give his body the time and support it needs to recover properly.

And for both of them, it means having help available during a period when neither is able to fully care for the other.

After 50 years of taking care of each other and so many others, we want to give Lainey and Peepaw permission to do something that probably doesn't come naturally to either of them:

Let other people take care of them for a while.

Our parents have spent their lives being the people who figure things out. 

As their sons, we've offered to help many times. 

Asking other people for help isn't something that comes naturally to them.  We understand that. 

But circumstances have changed. 

So we asked again. 

This time, they said yes.

So here we are. 

If you're able to contribute, no matter the amount, please know how deeply grateful our entire family will be.

If donating isn't possible, sharing this fundraiser can make an enormous difference.

And there's one other thing we'd love you to do.

Leave them a message.

We also want to surround them with something else:

The reminder that they're not going through this alone.

Our parents have spent 50 years taking care of each other and a lifetime opening their home and their hearts to the people around them. 

Right now, they both need a little help being taken care of themselves. 

As their sons, we'll do everything we can to make that happen. 

For all the people Hoppe Haven has welcomed through its doors, for all the memories made there, and for all the ways our parents have quietly shown up for others over the years, we're hoping we can return a little of that love to them now. 

Thank you for every donation. 

Thank you for every share. 

Thank you for every story, memory, message, and person rooting for them. 

With love and gratitude,

Greg and Andrea Hoppe
Steve and Jane Hoppe

Proudly organized by Dave and Elaine’s family