Blog Post: A Gift of Preparedness—The Story Behind Boots and Wings and the Grab and Go Book
In the chaos of a medical emergency or family crisis, there’s often no time to think—only to act. Yet, in these moments, vital information can be the difference between chaos and clarity, between support and struggle, between a good outcome and a tragic one. This is the heartbeat behind Boots and Wings—a company on a mission to empower individuals to take ownership of their health and wellness journey by organizing the most important information of their lives before they need it. They share the vision Along The Way has of a world where people have what they need and belong to a community marked by authentic relationships.
At the core of the Boots and Wings mission is the trademarked “Grab and Go Book”, a hands-on physical workbook designed to help individuals gather and store all essential documentation: medical records, legal paperwork, emergency contacts, advanced directives, medication lists, and more. It’s not just a binder—it’s a lifeline. It tells your story when you can’t, whether you’re unconscious in a hospital bed, facing cognitive decline, or your loved ones are left behind trying to make decisions during their deepest grief.
This is a gift you give yourself—and a gift you give your family.
You might be wondering: What does this have to do with Along The Way?
This is a gift you give yourself—and a gift you give your family.
Why It Matters
The statistics speak volumes:
• 93% of people believe it’s important to talk about end-of-life wishes, yet only 32% have actually done so.
• A staggering number of patients arrive in the ER without a complete medical history or an up-to-date medication list, contributing to medical errors and poor health outcomes.
• Families who are unprepared spend, on average, over 500 hours navigating care, legal paperwork, and decision-making after a crisis occurs.
• Without proper documentation, families face increased stress, conflict, and financial strain—at a time when their emotional reserves are already depleted.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
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Wisdom Meets Action
The visionary behind Boots and Wings is Tia McCoun, a wisdom-bearer with over 30 years of experience navigating complex care systems. Tia has walked this road personally and professionally, serving families in hospice, elder care, and emergency planning. She is a national speaker and trail-blazer who has a deep heart for people.
Through community-based workshops that are lighthearted, approachable, and grounded in real-life experience, she guides people through what can otherwise feel like an impossible task. The result is a completed Grab and Go Book—a single, organized source of truth that protects your voice, your values, and your future.
Whether you’re caring for aging parents, managing your own chronic health conditions, or simply want to be ready for whatever life throws your way, Tia’s method takes the fear and frustration out of preparation.
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A Real Family Story
This testimonial from Jennifer S., a client of Boots and Wings, speaks to the impact of the work:
“To anyone needing support navigating the challenging and complex world of elder care support & caregiving, Tia is a valuable resource. 3 years ago, our family was impacted by my mother’s severe stroke. The stroke resulted in left side paralysis and diminished mental capacity. She and my father lived alone at the time and my father, at age 82, had his own health challenges. I and my 2 siblings, all full-time working people, needed to quickly learn the ins and outs of what was available to us for Mom’s care, how to ask for what we needed, and how to find the best care solutions for our family’s needs. The elder care industry is short staffed and underfunded, and resources we wished were available—or available with Medicare coverage—simply weren’t.
Tia first helped us with getting organized with our patient data on both parents, guiding us to put together critical information into an easy-to-reference binder. In addition to providing insights based upon years of experience in hospice, Tia was there to provide additional information or clarification when we ran into those ‘brick walls.’ Often, it was a result of our lack of understanding of the provider systems. It was very comforting to have a knowledgeable guide outside of our doctors, rehabs, nurses—someone with an independent perspective not tainted by self-interest. Highly recommend.”
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Your Story, In Your Hands
Boots and Wings doesn’t just offer a product—it offers peace of mind, clarity in chaos, and a voice when yours can’t be heard. The Grab and Go Book is more than a workbook—it’s a framework for writing your own story, on your own terms.
In a world where systems are fragmented and support can be hard to find, Boots and Wings ensures that you’re never starting from scratch. With preparation, guidance, and the power of community, you can take the fear out of the unexpected—and give your loved ones the greatest gift of all: preparedness with love.
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You might be wondering: What does this have to do with Along The Way?
A few years ago, Boots and Wings co-hosted an event with us called 4W. Thanks to that collaboration, we raised over $12,000 in net profit to fund child care scholarships for women in our program—women working incredibly hard as CNAs, nurses, and frontline healthcare workers. In other words, the same women who would be reading the Grab and Go Book if you or someone you love ever needed care.
Since 2016, Along The Way has been sustained by the generosity of our community—and we don’t take that for granted. One of our core values is Authentic Relationship, and to us, that means fostering mutually beneficial partnerships, not one-sided transactions. Just because we are a nonprofit doesn’t mean we believe in only receiving. We believe in giving back—in honoring the people who make this work possible and creating value for our supporters.
That’s why we’re especially grateful to Boots and Wings for choosing Along The Way as the nonprofit beneficiary of the 4W event. And as a small but sincere token of our appreciation, we’re offering 5 FREE spots to an upcoming workshop exclusively for our supporters. Winners will be drawn from a hat and announced the last week of April!
Thank you for being part of something bigger than any of us could do alone. We hope this gift serves you, the way your support has served so many.
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Let’s get prepared—together.