WEYBURN - A sealed box filled with cheques and cash donations was delivered to Fred and Teresa Sandeski at Fred’s room in the Weyburn Special Care Home on Wednesday afternoon.
The box had been filled at a fundraiser event organized by Johnny Knox at the Weyburn Legion on Dec. 13, and Knox brought the unopened box to the couple, noting even just the day before people were still dropping off cheques for him to bring.
“You have no idea how much this really means to us,” said Fred, visibly moved as he was given the box, as he sat on his bed in the respite room, joined by his wife Teresa in her motorized wheelchair. “This is incredible.”
Fred added that what concerns him is how many other people are in similar situations but have no idea who to turn to for help, or where to call, and said residents need to stand up and make their voices heard.
Fred and Teresa were put into a situation where she was going to go in for a surgery, but was the sole care-giver for Fred, who has COPD issues and vision impairment, among other health issues.
He had been able to stay for a month at the Special Care Home, but at the end of that month was told he would then have to pay $45 a day for continued care, and the Sandeskis reached out for help as they did not have the money for the care.
“The thing that saddens me is, we shouldn’t have to depend on the community to take care of us,” said Teresa. “But I know, they love us. We’ve been here and we continue to be here.”
She noted that as the founder of the Community Low Income Centre in Weyburn, Fred worked hard to advocate for people for 20 years, helping people get housing or to get benefits from Workmen’s Compensation, or to navigate government ministries for assistance.
“It just seems so sad. The government has blinders on. What is it going to take? Is it going to take one of their family members?” Teresa asked, noting they had their plight made known by an MLA from Saskatoon, seniors critic Keith Jorgenson of the NDP.
Knox told the couple it took him eight days to put the fundraiser together, but once he got word out through social media that he was organizing this event, he received all kinds of messages and texts as people wanted to help out.
The event featured Knox and his band, Assorted Nuts, with a couple of guests, including singer Mandy Szczecinski, plus a silent auction, which raised about $1,400.
Presenting the sealed box to the couple, Knox said, “I hope it helps. Let me continue to think of things we can do.”
He noted he has been seeing Fred around the community and reading about the work he had been doing at CLIC for many years.
Teresa noted that a woman came by offering to pay for Fred’s respite stay for a month, and the lady was referred to billing at Tatagwa View, and the payment offer was not accepted because they didn’t know how many days he would be needing the respite care.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Fred, shaking his head.
“This is the fight that we’ve had. I’m so exhausted, and I still haven’t felt that good,” said Teresa, noting she had just had surgery recently. In checking up on her, her doctor told her she needs to take of herself, as well as of her husband.
