Giving Back at an Early Age Brings Joy to Acres of Hope

Local blogger, nurse and owner of Acres of Hope and Aspirations shares the experience of a visit from 1st graders who learned about the value of caring for others.

My Name is Winlom: Iraqi War Veteran Battles Every Day for Independence

Veteran of America's most recent conflict deals with aftermath of head injury, maintaining a positive attitude and grateful to be alive.

Pictures tell a story of the before and after in the life of an Iraqi War veteran, who is continuing to deal with his injuries at Muskego's Acres of Hope and Aspirations. "The first picture is very powerful one since it is Winlom, an Iraq Veteran who was shot in head in the Iraq War praying at the VA cemetery in Milwaukee," said Lisa Alberte, who owns and runs the rehab facility on five acres. "His prayer is for those that lost their lives and he is thanking God he is alive and is not one of those that perished despite being shot in head." Alberte responded to Muskego Patch's call for veterans stories in the week leading into Memorial Day, in hopes we would consider featuring him again "to bring his spirits up and feel like he is not …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (4)

Denise Konkol

9:44 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

I echo that - knowing what you've gone through, it seems like thanks is almost not enough, but too often people forget.   more ›

Volunteer: Senior Taxi, Acres of Hope, Foster an Animal

If you are looking for ways to volunteer this summer, here are a few different possibilities, in Muskego and around Waukesha County.

Give of your time, here and throughout the county. Want to know how to help? In Muskego Muskego Senior Taxi is looking for volunteer drivers to assist elderly residents in the city get to appointments, shopping and provide them the ability just to get around. Please contact them at 262-679-4754 if you've got the time and a good driving record! Acres of Hope and Aspirations is a unique rehabilitation facility in Muskego, providing assistance to brain injury victims. Their creatures of rehab also need plenty of attention, and your donation of time or money is always welcome. Contact Lisa at 414-405-4722. Jammin on Janesville promises to be even bigger this year, and the Muskego Chamber of Commerce could use some extra hands on deck. Call …

• Photos (4)

Rehab Facility Will Be Featured at Dells Conference

Lisa Alberte, brain injury rehab nurse and owner of Acres of Hope and Aspirations, will bring her presentation on the Muskego facility along with her creatures of rehab.

Muskego Brain Rehab Facility Will be Part of Fair Event

Brain injury is more common than people realize, and children especially need to be made aware of how to prevent it

Acres of Hope and Aspirations will feature Creatures of Rehab in a petting zoo at KidsFest and BabyExpo 2012 held this upcoming weekend on Saturday, April 14 and Sunday April 15 at Wisconsin Expo Center at State Fair Park. At the rehab home/farm located in Muskego, the Creatures of Rehab nurture and assist in the recovery process for patients and families affected by brain injuries.  Some of the animals themselves have disabilities to aide in the acceptance process of differences, deficits and functional limitations. The Creatures of Rehab also go to schools, churches, nursing homes and boys and girl scout troops to provide awareness and education about brain injury. Fur, Feather and Reptile friends from Acres of Hope and Aspirations will …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Dr. Jodie

7:52 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012

If you miss this event, but would like to help Acres of Hope and see the Creatures of Rehab at a hometown even, visit them at the Animal Doctor during Jammin' on Janesville. A wish list will soon be available for pick up at Animal Doctor. A professional photographer will be available to photograph your child with a giant tortoise..proceeds donated to help this wonderful organization!   more ›

Acres of Hope Brings Its Message to Madison

Director of Muskego brain injury rehabilitation facility hits the road and gives keynote address at nursing expo in state Capitol.

Lisa Alberte, a registered nurse and director of the Acres of Hope and Aspirations brain injury rehabilitation facility in Muskego, was a keynote speaker for the Nursing Matters Expo last week at the Alliant Center in Madison. Nestled in a residential area on five acres, Acres of Hope combines therapy for brain injury patients provided by nurses as well as through the human-animal bond. Alberte was accompanied in Madison by the facilities' residents — patients and animals alike. "We were very excited to take some of our creatures of rehab and bring awareness to the silent epidemic of brain injury since a brain injury alters, changes or takes a life every 19 seconds," Alberte said. She explained that the interactions between the animals on …

• Photos (4)

UPDATE: Coyotes Are At It Again At Acres of Hope

Three coyotes dug their way into the 'creatures of rehab' pen, but quick action meant that none of the animals at the Muskego facility were hurt on Saturday; however a return visit Sunday night resulted in death of goose.

Perhaps the new fallen January snow meant readily available food sources were tougher to find, but Lisa Alberte, nurse and director of Acres of Hope and Aspirations, reported that coyotes made another try for the animals in residence there on Saturday. "This early morning three coyotes surprised everyone as they were spotted running the animal grounds at Acres of Hope & Aspirations and were chasing the Creatures of Rehab including the blind pony, disabled mini-donkey, and pet ducks and geese," Alberte said. "With the help of staff and the large one-year-old Mareema sheepdog pups, the coyotes were chased around the grounds and ran out through the area they had dug unknowingly during the night under the steel fence." It was a little over a …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Giffords' Shooting Anniversary Meaningful for Muskego Rehab Facility

Acres of Hope was featured in the news shortly after a shooting left a congresswoman severely injured, and others dead. What progress has been made in a year?

Editor's note: In a local news scope, there's a lot to garner our attention, but we're glad for our readers who give us a heads up on local ties to national events. Much of the info provided below is thanks to Lisa Alberte, RN, with Acres of Hope and Aspirations, a brain injury rehabilitation facility nestled in a residential area of Muskego. Alberte was featured along with her patient, Winlom Woods, shortly after Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head on Jan. 18, 2011.   Jan. 8, 2012 marked the one-year anniversary of the tragic shooting of 19 people at an event in Tucson, Arizona. The day was an effort of “Together We Heal” that commemorated the first anniversary of that tragic day in 2011, when U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D…

• Photos (1)

Acres In Muskego Also Makes Milwaukee Great

Acres of Hope continues to receive recognition for how it helps its patients

We've known that Acres of Hope has provided a unique and successful formula in rehabilitating brain injury patients here in Muskego, and the facility continues to garner the same recognition throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Operated by RN Lisa Alberte, Acres will be featured for the second year in a row as a "Making Milwaukee Great" organization/business, and will be aired on CBS 58 this Saturday, Jan. 7, at 5:00 p.m. and again at 9:00pm on WMLW. The 2011 segment highlighted the progress of the facilities residents and its unique way of incorporating therapy animals to help patients strengthen their cognitive and physical abilities. In addition, a recent article in AgriView, the state's largest agriculture publication gave a nod to the …

• Photos (1)

Muskego Scout Writes About the Power of Giving

A trip to Acres of Hope leaves a lasting impression on youth

(Editor's note: As much as we can, we try to encourage our readers to submit stories, and we're happy to pass along one from Ian Hintz, who wrote about what it meant to him to spend some time giving to another organization that has itself given so much.) Thanksgiving Day and all of its glory has past, but today my Boy Scout Troop, Troop 141, helped out an organization that is always giving. Although we gave up three hours of our Saturday morning, we met a nurse who has devoted her life to Acres of Hope & Aspirations, a crew of workers who help people with brain injuries with the help of animals. The animals were great fun to play with and clean up after. As we fed the animals and took care of their bird cages and turtle tanks we realized …

• Photos (6)