Patient Stories
Dogged Determination Keeps North Dallas Senior on the Move
At 86, Margaret Williams lives alone… save for her fluffy little dog, who once belonged to Margaret’s only child, Barbara. Barbara and Margaret lived together until 2003, caring for one another, when heart and kidney failure took Barbara’s life at a young 56.
With glaucoma and diabetes severely limiting her eyesight, Margaret relies on bi-monthly visits from her niece in Tyler to help her run errands and shop for groceries. Since she “can’t stand up long enough to scramble eggs,” Margaret relies on daily meal deliveries from VNA’s Meals on Wheels volunteers.
Other important VNA services Margaret uses are a Telehealth monitor, which “calls out” to her twice a day to check her vital signs, and weekly visits by her VNA nurse.
“VNA has great service,” Margaret says. “I’ve really had good response anytime I’ve had problems.” Of course, even with all VNA’s help, there’s one 4-legged caretaker Margaret still counts on every day. “She keeps me doing my exercise,” Margaret says with a grin. Without the MOW supporters and volunteers like you, Margaret and hundreds of older and disabled people like her would not be able to live in their own homes.
Helping Others Is a Great Way to Heal
Handsome, 50-ish, athletically-built, Bob Barkley had been diagnosed with diverticulitis and finally consented to arthroscopic surgery in early 2008. Four days after surgery, complications led doctors to discover a perforation in his colon, forcing them to perform an ileostomy. After 10 days in intensive care, three more weeks in hospital, and another week in a rehabilitation facility, Bob finally went home. He was delighted to learn his physician had referred him for VNA Home Healthcare to treat his wounds.
Bob was reassured that his nurses always brought his needed medical supplies, yet he wondered aloud to one of them, “What do people do if they cannot afford to buy ileostomy materials?” He was unsettled when she replied, “They sometimes make do.”
Bob healed, was able to have his ileostomy reversed, and went back to work with the goal in mind of getting back to running every day. Bob has always strived to be a compassionate, community-minded person who translates his faith into positive action. He concludes:“You may think you have a good sense of charity when you are healthy, but when you are weak, you are humbled. In your brokenness, you come to understand. Helping someone else helped me heal.” VNA thanks Bob for his generosity and the help he is providing so others with fewer resources are not forced to “make do.”
VNA Comforts Through End-of-Life, and Beyond
James and Helen Gaulding typified the modern kind of retired couples found all across North Dallas. It was the second marriage for each that created a blended family with five children. After many happy years together, including an active retirement that included many memorable cruises to places such as Morocco, Switzerland, Italy, and other exotic locales, in the spring of 2007, James suffered an incapacitating stroke.
Caring for James by herself was more physically demanding than Helen could handle. Thankfully, a friend suggested the Visiting Nurse Association. Based on James’ diagnosis, his physician referred james for Bridge Care, a form of home health care offered when a patient is not expected to recover but is not yet ready for Hospice.
But James was slipping and after a few short months was placed on Hospice. This was a hard time for Helen, the children, and the grandchildren. But Helen says, “Everyone VNA sent was top notch and had our best interests at heart. I absolutely could not have kept James at home if VNA hadn’t been there.“
James passed away at home with Helen nearby. VNA thanks its donors who ensure that people without financial resources also face the end of life with dignity and comfort at home.
Giving and Giving Back
Thelma Jones is a smartly dressed lady with beautiful milk chocolate skin and perfectly coifed gray hair, who gave much to her Waco community until, at age 85, she needed help. When it became clear in 2005 that Thelma could no longer live alone, her niece Shirley and her husband Joe invited Thelma to share their small South Dallas apartment with them—and Jasmine, the cockatiel.
“It was,” Shirley said, “time for us to give now, just as Aunt Thelma had always given to her community. And it is especially important because she is our family.”
Thelma receives a daily noontime meal every weekday from Meals on Wheels. Because Shirley is so busy caring for Joe, who recently had eye surgery, as well as her 18-month-old granddaughter, knowing that Thelma is cared for during lunchtime is truly comforting.
Thelma’s regular Meals on Wheels volunteer delivery team, Vivienne and Henrietta who are employees with On-Target Supplies & Logistics, Ltd., are glad to be able to give to someone else.
“Something might happen to us or to our families someday,” they remarked. “By giving, we hope someone will do the same for us.”
It is the gifts of time, talent, and treasure from its donors and volunteers that allows VNA to provide Meals on Wheels to so many deserving people like Thelma.
A Need for a Friend
Nora, a 90-year old widow, contacted VNA because she needed transportation getting to doctor appointments. She lives alone in her own home. A daughter and grandchildren live in the area, but full-time jobs prevent them from driving Nora places during the day. VNA Eldercare provides a volunteer to drive Nora to her appointments and other errands and to check up on her occasionally. Support from the community helps the elderly to continue living in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes.
Independent Again
Forty-one year old Howard was hospitalized after an automobile accident that caused a small bowel injury with lacerations and resulted in a colostomy. When discharged home, Howard needed follow-up instruction to care for his wound and to learn how to manage his colostomy. With home care by a VNA nurse, Howard recovered from his injury and returned to independent living. Howard had no insurance but community funds made it possible for VNA to provide care anyway.
Care and Love at End of Life
Diagnosed with a terminal illness, Walter chose to receive VNA hospice. He was able to live at home rather than seek hospitalization or nursing home care. For the duration of his illness, Walter remained comfortable. His wife, Helen, was appreciative that Walter was able to remain near his family. Besides palliative care, VNA hospice provided spiritual and emotional support. Donations from the community allow VNA Hospice to care for and comfort patients and their families even when they cannot afford to pay.
VNA Therapist Puts Harold Back on His Feet
Married for 58 years, Beverly and Harold were a self-sufficient couple until a hip replacement forced Harold into a short stay at a rehabilitation unit. When he was discharged, Harold was delighted to be home--that is, until he began trying to walk on the carpet and step into and out of the bathtub. At 82, Beverly just couldn't care for 87 year-old Harold by herself. The entire family was concerned until Harold's physician referred him for VNA physical and occupational therapy. The physical therapist taught Harold how to safely transfer in and out of bed. Through exercise and gait training, Harold walked further every day. The occupational therapist obtained a tub transfer bench and showed Harold how to bathe and dress while taking precautions against additional injury. It wasn't long before Beverly just stood by to assist as needed. Beverly and Harold say he could not have progressed at home without the help of VNA.
