We started the morning off with the other students meeting in Schrock Plaza for breakfast and a prayer of sending. We then loaded into Char's car and headed to our first spot.
We were not sure what to expect when we rang *Dorthy's door bell. We introduced ourselves and went to work. We worked on things that were too difficult or dangerous for Dorthy to do. We cleaned the outside windows, inside underneath the sink in the kitchen and the bathroom, washed the siding on the porch, and raked the leaves surrounding the house.
I really enjoyed cleaning for Dorthy. I started inside under the sink and we were able to talk while I worked. I think it would be so lonely living alone. She talked a little about her husband (who had passed away) and history of her life. It was really interesting and I am glad we could keep her company for a few hours. While we were at Dorthy's house, one of the REAL Service's employees stopped by and gave us our next assignment.
After finishing up at Dorthy's we stopped and got sandwiches for lunch and at them at the park. It was a nice time for us to reflect on the work we did and what was to come next.
Our next assignment was with *George. George lives at home with his mother because he has Lou Gehrig's Disease (also known at ALS.) "ALS first affects legs, arms and/or throat and mouth muscles but ultimately affects all voluntary muscles, resulting in paralysis. Usually progresses rapidly with 3- to 5-year average survival" (http://www.als-mda.org/disease/als.html.) George was an incredibly lively man stuck in a paralyzed body. He sat in an electronic wheelchair that he controlled it with the movements of his head. I believe he has had ALS for over 15 yeas. He told us that he had started feeling the symptoms in his twenties.
At George's house we stained the Ceder siding shingles on the front of the house. The group had a good time doing this. We were working all together so we could talk with each other and with George, his mother and his nurse. George, his mother, and his nurse sat in the shade of a tree and watched us while we worked.
I had never been around someone with ALS before. I think it would be so difficult to see your body deteriorate so slowly and in this case, such a long time period. I was really amazed by his attitude towards life.
He really showed that you really need to live each day to the fullest no matter what situations you are in.
I need to remember that no matter what situation I might be placed as a teacher, I need to live my life and teach to the fullest, reaching out to all my students and what ever difficulties they my have.
“Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe, and learn; take a look around you whenever you have time and never forget everything and every person that has the least place within your heart.”
*Names have been changed to comply with privacy laws.
