Michael Chase’s family loves him deeply

To the editor:

I earnestly and from the depths of my heart apologize to Michael Chase’s family for a misquote that appeared in the article about the Wanamingo Group Home in the Friday, Jan. 21, issue of the Frontiersman (Home at Last). Michael’s family loves him deeply and has always been a part of his life. Michael, in turn, recognizes and loves his family. I have known Michael and his family for more than 10 years and while I provide assistance to them with regard to Michael’s care in the Wanamingo home, Michael’s parents continue to be a critical part of his life and have frequent contact with him.

To prevent any misunderstandings, several other statements require some clarification. My husband and I designed Brian’s home around his needs; low-interest financing is through AHFC/First National Bank; the home was built by Gillespie Construction. Due to physical abuse and neglect that resulted in permanent damage to Brian’s right leg, a lawsuit was filed against the agency providing services to Brian, about three years after the Wanamingo home opened. That agency was removed from management of the home. Funds received from settlement of that suit were placed in a trust and used to provide improvements to the home. These included a ceiling track lift system, full-home generator system, air purification units, a wheelchair accessible van and other improvements, or equipment not covered by Medicaid.

I genuinely appreciate the article K.T. McKee wrote regarding the Wanamingo Group Home in Wasilla. We are extremely proud of our home and the fact that the individuals who reside there have happy, meaningful lives in spite of their intellectual, physical and medical challenges. They are treated lovingly and with dignity and respect. The Wanamingo home is truly their home. We have an amazing team of care providers who work at the home. They are to be commended for maintaining the high standards that have made Wanamingo a model home. Any individual who is born with a disability, becomes disabled due to an accident or illness, or who is diagnosed with a mental illness deserves to be treated with the same dignity and respect as we wish to receive from others. I hope that this article increases awareness in our community of the value of the lives of those with special needs. They are God’s special children, and we are all called to care for those who cannot care for themselves. How they are treated is a measure of the value of our society.

Linda Giani

Wasilla