Family turns loss into lifeline with $17k gift for diabetes patients

Editor’s note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave’s On the Ground Battle Creek series.

A daughter’s legacy turned into generosity came full circle Monday, when the family of Amanda Ostrander returned to Oaklawn Hospital with a $17,000 gift to help patients fighting the same disease that claimed her life.

On Monday, November 3, Dr. Kelly Wemple, pharmacist, and Cindy Lake, development manager of the Oaklawn Medical Group, welcomed members of Ostrander’s family to the Marshall hospital to accept a donation of more than $17,000 in support of patients living with diabetes.

The donation was made possible through the Amanda Fund in memory of Ostrander, who died on Feb. 22, 2009, at age 36 from complications of Type 1 diabetes and had been a patient at Oaklawn Hospital.

The Amanda Fund was created by Amanda’s family, including her parents, Barbara Brown and Charles Ostrander, and her siblings, Christopher Ostrander and Marci Spier. They supported Amanda along her challenging journey with the disease, which included a kidney transplant at age 26 and dialysis, throughout her life.

The Battle Creek Community Foundation (BCCF) administers the Amanda Fund on behalf of the family.

“Barb and her family’s contribution via the Amanda Fund is sure to be a blessing to those in the community who need assistance,” Wemple says. “It is difficult to see people struggle because they are unable to afford the tools they need to successfully manage their diabetes. This donation will be a great help. I appreciate everyone working on this and increasing diabetes awareness.”

Brown says the endowment fund keeps her daughter’s memory alive.

“Mandy loved doing things for people and loved giving to others,” she says. “This fund, and being able to give, is a part of who she was, and will help others on her behalf.”

The donation provides patients access to care, including doctor visits, screenings, and treatment. It also helps cover costs associated with medication and supplies, such as insulin, glucose-testing and monitoring devices, insulin pumps, and more.

Equally important, the Amanda Fund assists those who need rapid assistance for urgent health and financial needs. Brown says this is a critical part of why they started the fund.

“Mandy struggled with the significant expenses of living with a chronic illness. At the time she was going through costly dialysis, a generous, anonymous donor stepped forward to cover the fees,” she says. “Through the Amanda Fund, our family can help people in similar medical situations.”

Brown also expressed a deep gratitude for the numerous individuals who have donated to the Amanda Fund from the time it was established at BCCF. “I thank all of those people, because their generosity mirrors my daughter’s,” she says.

“Our team at BCCF specializes in working with families who desire to honor a loved one’s legacy,” says Mary Muliett, BCCF CEO. “A key benefit of establishing an endowment or donor-advised fund is the longevity in charitable giving for future generations.”

More than 59,000 Michiganders receive a diabetes diagnosis each year, according to the American Diabetes Association. Additionally, nearly 35% of adults in the state are estimated to be prediabetic, with a higher risk of developing diabetes in the future.

To learn more about donating to important causes and concerns in the greater Battle Creek community, and to find a list of existing funds where donations can be made, check this LINK.

Contact Lynn Ward Gray at lynn@bccfoundation.org to create a fund.