Sandy Lane Freeman

The Journey of Life for a Child of God Who Was Blind/Deaf

with Multiple Disabilities for 62 Years:

Told by Sandy Lane Freeman Through My Father and Mother

I was born on December 6, 1958 in Dallas at the Methodist Hospital. Since I was 3 months premature and only weighted 1 pound 13 ounces, I needed a high concentration of oxygen to keep me alive. This caused my retinas to become detached which resulted in total blindness. It also resulted in severe brain damage which rendered me unable to hear and speak, but I can vocalize by laughing and making different sounds depending on my mood. The hundreds of wonderful people who have helped and cared for me over the years soon learned what my different sounds and actions mean.

My first 16 years were spent at home with my younger brother, Randy, and the smartest dog in the world. He had a unique sense of my mental/physical challenges. During this time of my life there were many professionals and caregivers teaching me to live this God given life.

After several years at home with specialized medical care and training by Dr. Ed Hammer and his staff at the Dallas Services for the Bind. Dr. Hammer developed a statewide program for the deaf/blind at the Abilene State Institution. At age 16 I went into this program and lived in Abilene, Texas.

When group homes for the developmentally disabled became available, I qualified for one in Mineral Wells, and was transferred at age 32. Now being closer to home, mom and pops could visit on the weekends.

Specialized deaf/blind group homes began to open in several of the larger cities across the state when I was my mid-30s.

The deaf/blind group homes were expanding under a new federally funded Deaf/Blind with Multi Disabilities Medicaid Waiver program. So, at age 37 I was transferred to the San Antonio group home residential program, which included training and workshops 5 days a week.

I was able to thrive the next 25 years surrounded by family, many friends, caregivers, and professionals.

My last two years were medically challenging, and I had to be fed with a tube in my side until my death on January 28, 2021.

My God bless those who help those in need.

*In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to the Deaf/Blind Multihandicapped Association of Texas (DBMAT) a family/professional advocacy organization which helps support those like Sandy.

A private visitation will be held, Friday, March 19, 2021.

Under the direction of Wiley Funeral Home, Granbury.