Rest in Peace, Wally Sumner
Wally Sumner with his wife, Diane.
When he suffered the rarest of maladies, a spinal stroke, many in Alljoy were in disbelief. Wally Sumner had always been their rock — the guy that repaired their steps or the crooked leg on their dining room chair. The life of the party, the essence of living in the Bluffton neighborhood.
It’s hard to believe typing this. Wally passed away this morning after a nearly nine-month battle to recover from the stroke. He was 64 years young.
The Fiddler House is silent today, the original area fish camp that was for so long the social center of Alljoy — where newbies came to meet the long-timers and find common ground in the love of this slice of the original one mile of Bluffton that seems to be the originals of all things locally eccentric.
Here was the last update from the GoFundMe to help pay for Sumner’s medical expenses, from family friend Laura Wilson from Friday, Jan. 27.
“It is nearing nine months since we first learned of Alloy’s Walter Sumner suffering a spinal stroke, paralyzing him, and altering his entire world.
His wife, Diane, three days after this devastating, life-threatening tragedy, is, without warning, laid off from her employer of sixteen years.
Diane, herself, a breast cancer survivor and Harley rider, has pressed on with everything — she has to be there for her husband, navigating the daunting, world of hospitals, doctors, respirators, ventilators, tracheotomy tubes, bed sores and so much more.
The Alljoy community, where Walter and Diane have called home for years, has shown their love in so many ways. From physical help around their home, to cards, flowers and fundraisers for Walter’s mounting medical bills and monetary support for Diane to continue to be able to focus as his medical advocate - traveling daily to Georgia to be by his side.
”Having worked tirelessly, lining up caregivers and other conditions to meet the criteria for Walter’s admittance to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Diane jubilant, that her husband, FINALLY would get the needed therapy… those hopes were dashed when she learned, the decision had been reversed - denying Walter’s admittance. This was their news heading into the holidays…
Discouraged, now tasked with finding another facility that will take a trach patient, Diane is exhausted… yet driven to keep Walter’s spirits up…
Diane so wants to SHOUT – GOOD NEWS, give POSITIVE updates like how Walter can now eat applesauce and thickened ginger ale, yet … where there are now, in this New Year – is simply wanting to bring Walter home. Out of the hospital and … home.
How can we help?
IF ANYONE reading this knows of a home health care agency who will come in to assist a person on a ventilator – PLEASE let us know. (Diane has been working for a month on this current hurdle)
Continued thoughts and prayers - are so appreciated knowing there is POWER in prayer. In that, we also know FAITH without WORKS is dead – Works in the form of physical assistance, and monetary support.
For close friends, neighbors – prioritizing time in (all of) our busy schedules to go and visit Wally; especially after him recently saying to Diane, feeling, he has been forgotten …
Next best, sending a card of encouragement to Walter AND Diane. She also greatly needs our care and continued support. Cards can be mailed to: 249 AllJoy Rd., Bluffton, SC 29910
Diane has a HUGE stack of medical bills staring at her, that yes, will need addressed. She has worked some evening “gigs” (waitressing/banquets) for gas money, immediate needs, yet can we please lessen her load by making a monetary donation to help her be there for Walter? To help – bring Walter home.
Large or small – any and all are humbly appreciated.”
