My name is Sandra. I am 33 years old and live in Alaska. Since 2001 I have been the full-time live-in care provider for my disabled father.

On September 12, 2001 my father suffered from a severe stroke that left him in need of constant home care. We were fortunate in that he was visiting Spokane Washington at the time and was quickly taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center where he received care that saved his life.

On September 24, 2001 my parents were blessed to be able to celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary together in my father's room at Saint Luke's Rehabilitation Center. That blessing would prove to be fleeting, however. Shortly after midnight my father suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed back to Sacred Heart where he underwent surgery that once again saved his life.

He spent months in rehabilitation clinics and Senior Living homes where he was given constant care by trained nurses and at long last was able to return home to us (mostly through my mother and I steadfastly refusing to leave him to the care of nursing homes that were often more abusive than helpful.)

We managed to keep things going for several years, however it is getting more and more difficult. As his daughter I am unable to receive financial assistance from any state or government agency for the care I provide my father - however if I wished to go and care for someone not related to me there are many that would gladly pay me thousands of dollars a month.

I assume that such rules are in place to prevent a person from claiming to support a family member only to illegally collect money, but my father honestly needs constant care and I am the only one in a position to provide that. He does not wish to have a stranger come into his home and bathe him or dress him.

He is a retired Army veteran that served for over 21 years, was given an Army Commendation Medal for his work in the Combat Developments Study on the Application of Automatic Switching Systems in 1965 (the program that made it possible for the Internet to be created), he proudly served during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.