Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Hart.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My life began humble. I was born in Ft Worth, TX, and grew up in Garland, TX, into a wonderful family of my mother Dianna & father Kenneth, my oldest sister Keva, my brother Demetrius, and my youngest sister Bianca. My parents and siblings shaped the person I’ve become today. I will always be grateful to them. Without them, I would have not had the determination I posses!
During my first years of school, I loved playing with others. After playing, I often would go visit the school nurse to tell her that I had an ache or a pain somewhere in my body. Oftentimes, I was told to say that “You sound like an old person,” get back to class. In middle school, I ran track and played basketball. Again, afterwards, I would tell the trainers that I was in pain. It was ignored once again.
Being the person I’ve become today has had its challenges. One morning, I got out of bed and instantly fell to the floor. I could no longer ambulate. I become bed-bound and was in a vegetative state for two years. At the age of 14 years, I was diagnosed with lupus. Afterwards, I became confined to a wheelchair for eight years.
It took many doctors and medical professionals two years to conclude this diagnosis was incorrect. After many tests, the true diagnosis was that I had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 16 years. Basically, my white cell counts were fighting with my body. The best way to describe this condition is that my body was aging as if I were an 86-year-old individual.
The team at Texas Scottish Rite diagnosed my condition and developed a recovery plan. Through excruciating circumstances and hindering adversities, against all odds, my battle began to regain my confidence and self-worth.
Once again, adversity reared its head. After being neglected by home health care agencies, I developed bed sores Often I was forced to lay on linen containing fecal matter and urine; this was due to the agencies arriving an hour plus late.
I lacked the ability to take my medication, which continued to worsen my condition. My arthritis in my hands worsen. My hands began to fold inward as well as arms and legs. I was also prescribed steroids, which caused blindness in left eye.
This situation become a desperate cry for help. Determined to walk again, I was prescribed physical therapy and water aerobics. These were two big steps in the road to recovery.
While being bed-bound, my weight got out of control. My weight topped off at 300 lbs. I decided to get gastric bypass surgery, The weight had another negative impact, my knees. I had a double knee replacement and once again began therapy to learn to walk again.
After a miraculous recovery, I reflected on my long journey and dedicated my life to helping others by opening a business in May of 2009. The goal was to simply ensure that people didn’t suffer the way that I had and that they receive the proper treatment.
Today, Hart Referrals is a consulting agency focused on the overall well-being and improvement of an individual’s condition. We have a vast pool of resources. Hart Referrals works with individuals to aid them in obtaining Medicare, Medicaid, Home Health Care agencies as well as Hospice comfort care.
My gained strength and confidence have helped create my non-profit Hart to Home Texas. Hart to Home Texas was created to help individuals with housing needs. Hart to Home Texas also helps feed the homeless every week. Oftentimes, we participate in fundraising events to aid individuals who have no employment. For individuals who do not have family members, we also aid by becoming their payee representative.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest obstacle was being misdiagnosed. This caused two significant health problems
1) if diagnosed properly at the age of 14, I would not have gained the weight
2) over-medicating by prescribing steroids again contributed to the weight.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Hart Referrals is a consulting agency focused on the overall well-being and improvement of an individual’s condition. We have a vast pool of resources. Hart Referrals works with individuals to aid them in obtaining Medicare, Medicaid, Home Health Care agencies as well as Hospice comfort care.
Hart to Home Texas is a non-profit. Hart to Home Texas was created to help individuals with housing needs. Hart to Home Texas also helps feed the homeless every week. Oftentimes, we participate in fundraising events to aid individuals who have no employment. For individuals who do not have family members, we also aid by becoming their payee representative.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Hart Referrals
The largest population of the individuals we serve are 55 years of age and above. There are 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day. We see this industry to reach its peak by 2050. Although it will peak the industry will continue to sustain growth due to 340M U.S. citizens aging.
Hart to Home Texas
Equity and Inclusion is one of the five growth areas for non-profits. Hart to Home Texas is in this segment. We aid individuals who’ve been incarnated by offering them a second opportunity in the workforce.
Contact Info:
- Website: harttohometexas.com
