For more than 23 years, Mike and Sheri Hofmeyer have devoted their lives to caring for their daughter, Alyssa.
Born with Aicardi Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes severe developmental delays, Alyssa was not expected to live past her first birthday. Today, at 23½ years old, she continues to defy those expectations thanks to the love of her family, dedicated medical care, and a strong support system.
When Alyssa turned 18, she aged out of the Children’s Special Healthcare program that had helped meet her complex medical needs. Working with a supports coordinator, the Hofmeyers were connected to the MI Choice Waiver Program through Senior Resources of West Michigan.
The program provides eight hours of nursing care each day, giving Sheri much-needed time to rest and helping the family manage Alyssa’s around-the-clock care needs.
“Alyssa requires constant supervision,” Sheri explains. “She doesn’t have a regular sleep cycle, can experience multiple seizures a day, and always needs someone with her.”
For the remaining hours of the day, Sheri is Alyssa’s primary caregiver while Mike works long hours to support the family.
Despite the challenges, the Hofmeyers are grateful Alyssa can remain at home.
“Having Alyssa at home means everything to us,” Sheri says. “She knows who we are. When she comes home from a hospital stay and gets back into her own bed and her own room, you can tell she’s happy.”
Although Alyssa is nonverbal and developmentally similar to a young toddler, she communicates in her own ways. Her care remains complex, requiring frequent lung suctioning, seizure monitoring, and constant attention.
The family believes the care Alyssa receives at home has made a tremendous difference in her quality of life.
“She’s never had a pressure sore in her life,” Sheri says. “We know her needs, her routines, and what keeps her comfortable. Home is where she belongs.”
The Hofmeyers also credit Senior Resources of West Michigan for helping them navigate the transition from pediatric to adult services and ensuring Alyssa receives the support she needs.
“Senior Resources has helped us in dramatic ways,” Sheri says. “They make sure Alyssa’s needs are met, and that gives us peace of mind.”
Looking back on the past two decades, Sheri knows they could not have done it alone.
“It has taken a community to get Alyssa this far,” she says. “The support we receive allows us to keep her where she is happiest, surrounded by the people who love her.”
For the Hofmeyers, that support means more than services. It means being able to remain a family, together at home.
