Still Swinging

Lavonne never likes to sit for too long.

92-year-old Lavonne Raven has never been a homebody.  “I’m just not a person who sits around the house!” she says.   Her younger days were busy with raising a family and running a small business, and she discovered a strong passion for golf in her senior years.   The sport was a huge part of her life.  When she wasn’t on a golf course or traveling with her golfing group, she could be found playing cards, running errands, shopping or attending events in her local community.   She was always on the run.

That all changed when Lavonne was in a car accident in 2013.   Her car was totaled, and her family decided to take away her keys for good.  She no longer had the freedom to come and go as she pleased.

Lavonne is a perpetually positive person, but it was hard to see the bright side of this life development.  “I lost my independence,” she explains.

As she adjusted to her new home-based routine, Lavonne discovered the Volunteer Transportation program.   She felt very relieved to learn that the program’s volunteer drivers could take her to see her oncologist, urologist, chiropractor, physical therapist, audiologist and eye doctor.  She was in good health for her age, but her calendar was full of recurring appointments.  She wouldn’t have to miss out on her important medical care.

Over two years later, Lavonne continues to use Volunteer Transportation several times per month.  She is very interesting in her own right, but she reports that one of her favorite things is learning about her volunteer drivers.    “I love hearing about their lives!  It’s like a day out for me.   The drivers are all marvelous, and they all have such neat experiences to share,” she exclaims.  She lists one volunteer driver who spends a lot of time on his large boat, another who is an avid cyclist and another who has gone on extensive motorcycling trips.  She is able to live vicariously through their adventures.

Lavonne’s life may have changed since the loss of her car, but Volunteer Transportation allows her to hold on to her treasured independence.  She says, “I truly do not know what I’d do without the program.  It is just so wonderful.”

Volunteer Transportation helps Lavonne remain active, and she happily reports that she is still able to golf a full 18 holes.  She isn’t able to hit the ball quite as far as she used to, and she doesn’t make it to the golf course as frequently as she’d like, but she still has an accurate swing.

Volunteer drivers ensure that Lavonne can maintain the good health and high spirits she needs to keep both on the go and on the green.

Volunteer driver, Reta Beals, escorts Fern to an appointment.

71-year-old Fern Malavaceo does not know what she’d do without Volunteer Transportation.  Forty years ago, she decided that driving was not for her.  It caused her great anxiety, especially after she’d had multiple harrowing experiences behind the wheel on freeways in the rain.  She relied on her kids to take her to appointments when they could, but she often felt stuck when they were unavailable.  She registered for Volunteer Transportation three years ago and says, “The program is such a blessing!”

For Fern, Volunteer Transportation is about comfort and familiarity.  She explains, “The drivers are awesome!  They are so considerate.  They’re like family members to me.”  She loves how volunteers typically wait for her as she’s in an appointment and reports that she always feels supported throughout the whole process.

Fern (and others like her) make it clear that volunteer drivers have an amazing ability to ease stress and calm nerves.  They bring Zen to the art of giving rides.

Rose holds up a photograph featuring [almost] all of  the 17 members of her immediate family!

Rose Braun is an 88-year-old regular Volunteer Transportation client.  It is easy to see that her current life in Shoreline is a far cry from her youth in North Dakota.

Rose grew up on a farm during the Great Depression in a family of fifteen children (not including one who died of Scarlett Fever) without running water, irrigation, or electricity.  Their home included many features of this traditional lifestyle, yet it was equipped for North Dakota’s extreme seasons.  They had an outhouse; an old-fashioned, non-electric washing machine; windmills; rain barrels for collecting water; a root cellar; a smokehouse that converted to an ice house with the use of ice cut out of frozen rivers and insulation provided by straw; and a sleigh that converted to a wagon. They had a “summer house” for butchering, canning, and hot cooking in warmer months and a rope that guided them to the well for water during winter blizzards.  There was never a dull moment in such a household!

Pictures from Rose's childhood: the family's  threshing machine, farmhouse, and summer house

Rose and her fourteen siblings developed a strong work ethic at an early age.  The girls of her family were born first (Rose was the sixth child), and they worked long days in the fields with tasks like binding and threshing before milking the cows and completing household chores.  She remembers times when the family had company, which meant that they started cooking at 2:00AM and stayed up late into the night washing dishes.  When they were older, Rose and her sisters all found work outside of the home to pay their way through high school, making $1 per month.  They didn't take anything for granted.

Rose reports that she never felt deprived during her formative years.  “There were really bad days and really good days,” she explains.  It was just a different way of life.

Rose's parents

Rose seized an opportunity to move to the Pacific Northwest in 1952 but brought her hardworking farm girl outlook with her.  She got a job at Boeing, raised a family, and ran her own house cleaning operation for 21 years.  The fieldwork of her youth caused her to need both knees replaced in 1994, and she survived breast cancer several years ago.  When her husband, Al, became ill and lost his vision, Rose learned to drive in her late 70’s.  She provided his transportation to local appointments until he passed away in 2009.

As a new driver, Rose never felt comfortable driving freeways.  She and Al both initially registered for the Volunteer Transportation program in 2002, and she continues to rely on the program’s volunteer drivers to get to regular appointments with the eye doctor.  She really appreciates the service.  She says, “I’m so glad to have you guys!”

Volunteer drivers love meeting Rose and talking with her during rides.  She has strong memories of her early days and exudes an inspiring spirit of vivacity.  Although a lot has changed in her life over the years, Rose clearly still has her North Dakota-born strength and determination.

When Audrey lived in Taipei, Taiwan for a year, she was a very particular shopper.  Storekeepers listened patiently as she used great detail to describe the precise item she sought-- stipulating its size, colors, shape, and design.  But Audrey really wasn’t picky, and her true purpose was not to purchase something specific.  Audrey shopped to learn.   She used these daily excursions to practice her Chinese vocabulary and become more fully immersed in the culture that surrounded her.

Taiwan is just one of the diverse locations that Audrey has called home.   She has also lived in New York, Germany, Japan, and Kansas.  She has a strong sense of adventure; she loves learning; and she has a deep appreciation for the arts.  She lives fully, no matter where she resides.

Audrey moved to Redmond three years ago.  She sorted through the countless things that filled the home she’d shared with her late husband, donated her beloved piano to a local nonprofit organization, packed up all of the meaningful artwork she’d collected over the years, and left Kansas behind.  She was eager to see her grandchildren more often; she was ready to open up a new chapter of her life in Western Washington.  

Audrey’s Redmond home is full of art—including paintings, carvings, sculptures, and figurines—reflecting her many experiences.  “Everything has a story,” she states. “These are my life, my memories.”

Audrey attempted to adjust and adapt to her new environment—as she had always done.  But it wasn’t so easy this time.  The process of downsizing and relocating after the loss of her husband was much more difficult than she’d imagined.  She explains, “It was very, very traumatic.  Frankly, I just wasn’t myself for the first two years.”  

Audrey discovered Volunteer Transportation as she transitioned to her new life in Redmond.  She was afraid to drive longer distances, and her dentist’s office informed her that the program’s volunteer drivers could take her to her appointments in Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland.  She was delighted. 

The volunteer drivers have been very welcoming and kind to Audrey.  She enjoys their conversations during rides, and she doesn’t know what she’d do without the program.  She makes an effort to tell each and every volunteer how much she appreciates their help. Audrey says, “I tell them how important their volunteer work is—that it’s a wonderful contribution to our community.”  She adds, “It’s a great service, and it’s much, much needed.” 

Audrey, who is now 82, credits Volunteer Transportation for helping her to feel more at home in the Pacific Northwest.  Starting anew was not easy, and it took some time to get her bearings straight.  But Audrey is her determined, creative, and curious self once again.

Life is challenging for Barbara.  At 86, her body isn’t what it used to be.  She's had both knees replaced; she has a herniated disc in her back; and she suffers from extreme sciatic nerve pain.  She often feels overwhelmed and out of sorts.  “Sometimes, it’s like we’re drowning in everything.  All we want to do is just lie down,” she says as she talks about how she and her 88-year-old husband, Charles, spend their time. 

But the two of them still manage to get out and about.  Barbara and Charles both have frequent medical appointments, and they rely on Volunteer Transportation drivers to get them to clinics and home safely again.

Barbara didn’t feel up for an interview at this time, but she was very clear over the phone that she had a message to share with all those involved with the Volunteer Transportation program: “It has been tough to lose our independence, but you have made it easier.  It is an awesome program, and I think everyone who is a part of it is awesome.  I really do.  I can’t imagine life without it.” 

The October edition of AgeWise King County features a thoughtful reflection about Volunteer Transportation.  You may recognize the three clients it describes from their more detailed profiles found on this blog.  Check it out by clicking here!

In Dancing in the Rain: A Collection of Raindrops and Rainbows, author Marie Trotignon reflects on the endurance and resilience of the human spirit.  Marie uses each unique vignette to poignantly demonstrate how we can cope with life’s storms by learning to dance in the rain.

Dancing in the Rain is one of Marie’s three published books, but the 84-year-old has been writing stories ever since she learned to write.  Writing is a constant in her life; it is her talent, her solace, her joy.  Her love for words runs deep. 

Marie is also a passionate reader.  She has held many different jobs over the years, but her favorite was when she was an elementary school librarian.  She knew every book in the school and could make recommendations for children of all ages.

Yet, in one of life’s unfair ironies, Marie developed macular degeneration several years ago.  At first, it allowed her to continue on with her normal routines and activities.  But it progressed and soon caused words to disappear or turn into mumbo jumbo on pages.  Writing became a challenge, and reading was nearly impossible.  She struggled to make sense of words.

Losing her vision has been difficult hurdle for Marie to get over, but she is determined.  She says, “Books have always been my love, and it’s hard not to read a book.  Books are sitting around here waiting to be read.  I’d like to find something to help me. ” Marie’s treatment plan includes getting shots in her eyes every two weeks.  This process is far from enjoyable, but she is willing to do whatever it takes to hold on to as much sight as she can. 

Just like the characters of her book, Marie looks on the bright side of this unpleasant process.   One of the silver linings of the injection ordeal is meeting the Volunteer Transportation drivers who take her to/from her eye appointments.   She says, “I just can’t praise the program enough.  The volunteers are such nice people.  They are friendly, competent, and qualified.  I’ve enjoyed meeting each and every one of them.”

As a story enthusiast, Marie also values learning about the lives of the volunteer drivers as they chat during the rides.   She reports, “They are comfortable conversations.  It doesn’t feel awkward with any of them.”   Each person has a story to share.

Marie still writes daily and attends a writing feedback group once or twice per week.  Like all authors, she has many ideas about her next projects, but she never knows where they’ll end up.  She explains, “You sit down with something in mind, but then it writes itself.  Your characters come to life.  They lead, and you have to follow them. ”

Marie’s life has unfolded in a similarly unpredictable fashion.  There have been bumps and storms.  But Marie is still dancing.

Volunteer Transportation Client Tackles Hard Issues

Mary Shadrick, a Volunteer Transportation client for 21 years, never does anything halfheartedly.  Whether recreationally, politically, or professionally, Mary is never on the sidelines.  

Recently, the 86-year-old accumulated more activity points than anyone else in her Renton assisted living community.  With her regular participation in activities like Bid Whist, Bingo, Bunko, Rummikub, and exercise classes, Mary earned an impressive $30,000 of “money.”  This allowed her to purchase two watches and two necklaces at the facility’s auction.  These rewards illustrate her go-getter attitude and willingness to try new things. 

Active involvement is nothing new for Mary.  She was a dedicated participant at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center and became a lifetime member of the Central Area Senior Center after volunteering at its front desk for seven years.   The Bid Whist group that she started at the Central Area Senior Center continues to thrive.  She worked as a microbiology transcriber for the California Department of Health Services at UC Berkeley and served as a clerk for Judge W.J. Wilkins, renowned for his involvement in convicting leading Nazis in the Nuremberg trials.  

Even in difficult circumstances, Mary doesn’t hold back.  “I’ve always had to tackle the hard issues,” she says.  She became involved in local politics under the guidance of Sam J. Smith, a prominent black politician and civil rights activist.  She was the first and only African American in her role as clerk for Judge Wilkins, as well as the only African American in the microbiology department at Berkeley.   She speaks openly of the tokenism she encountered in these times and the prejudice she has experienced in more recent years.  “People don’t change overnight,” she explains.

But Mary doesn’t let these incidents get her down. She believes that she gets her strength from her mother, who was a strong role model for her seven children.  Mary also acknowledges the important role that her daughter plays in her life.   Her daughter gives her lots of important information to help her remain healthy, active, and well-informed.

Volunteer Transportation has been yet another source of support for Mary.   She hasn’t let challenges like giving up her car or moving to a new area prevent her from seeing her long-term Seattle doctors.  She often spreads the word about the program to other seniors who may need it and tells them, “It’s very reliable.  I’ve had good luck with the volunteer drivers; they are nice people.”   She can speak with conviction from her 21 years’ worth of experiences with the program.

It is clear that Mary Shadrick is fully empowered, ready to conquer any obstacle that gets in her way.

**Like Mary, you can jump right in to new and worthwhile activity: become a volunteer driver today! Drivers are needed throughout King County. Contact Hilary at hilaryc@seniorservices.org or (206)748-7588 to find out more.  

When the bombs began to drop on Pearl Harbor, 22-year-old Joe Mathias was on the bridge of the Case-DD370, a destroyer ship dismantled for repairs, looking toward the navy yard and waiting to instruct his fellow navy crew members to commence the Morning Colors Ceremony.  But his life, and the course of history, changed in an instant as the explosions interrupted his daily duties as Messenger to the Quartermaster. 

Joe stayed focused amidst the commotion.  As he carried a heavy box of ammunition across the ship, he was so close to Japanese fighter planes that he could see their pilots in the cockpits.  Later that evening, after engineers had fixed the Case-DD370 to allow it to move again, Joe and the rest of the crew received orders to drop a 600-pound canister of dynamite on a Japanese submarine that had been spotted in the harbor.  Joe has since read many reports about Pearl Harbor, but he says, “I’ve never seen that part in the history books!  And most of the stories that have been published aren’t the ones I know.”

Joe has an uncanny ability to lucidly recall details—names, dates, facts, foods, numbers, descriptions— from many events of his life.  He recounts his experiences from the Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 as if they were yesterday, and he shares other stories from his youth, years in the navy, and adulthood with equally rich narration.  As he describes a bombardment while stationed on Attu in the Aleutian Islands, the suspense is palpable. 

But Joe also shares less dramatic pieces of his life.  He talks of becoming paralyzed due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome in 1968 and of his wife’s struggles with Alzheimer’s Disease prior to her death in 2007.  His life has been full of all sorts of unexpected challenges—each calling for a different type of bravery.

Joe is now 95, and he often uses the Volunteer Transportation program for needed rides.  The volunteer drivers who take him to/from medical appointments have the privilege of listening to his wide-ranging and vivid accounts.  It is an honor to learn from someone with such a repertoire of life experiences, and meeting people like Joe is what makes driving with the Volunteer Transportation program such a meaningful and enjoyable activity.  As Joe talks, it is easy to see the spirit of a young sailor infusing the true tales of this animated veteran.

This is 21-year-old Joe at Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Illinois.  As he shows this photo, he chuckles and recalls seeing a sign that read, "Sailors and dogs, keep off the grass!"

Joe's dog tags hang from his wall.  He explains the rather morbid purpose of the ridges found at the end of them.  "They're placed into the teeth of a dead man to identify him!" he says.

Joe holds onto a photo montage featuring many key ingredients of his life,  including pictures with his wife (Phyllis) and images of the Case-DD370.  Ever the storyteller, Joe quickly jumps into detailed descriptions of items and events depicted in the collage.

Raisa, who will turn 80 in December,   is very studious with her English textbooks.

When Raisa Nikitina’s two adult sons first brought her to visit the USA in the 1990’s, she marveled at everything.  She found the scenery to be incredibly beautiful; she was amazed by all of the choices; and everything was new to her.   She made several subsequent visits and soon filled multiple photo albums chronicling her experiences-- shots of her at the Pike Place Market, on a ferry ride in the Puget Sound, taking a tour at the Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia, and (her favorite memory) expressing complete shock as a restaurant staff unexpectedly serenaded her son on his birthday.  It all was so novel and different from her life in Russia.

Fast forward to the present day, and Raisa is an American citizen.  Her sons ultimately persuaded her to make the big move to be closer to them and her grandchildren, and Raisa passed the citizenship exam in January of this year.  She still has the study guides that she used to learn about all of our country’s wars, which states have borders with Mexico and Canada, which oceans are on the East of the country, and all sorts of information she had not previously known.  She studied hard to achieve this goal; she was the best student in her preparation class.

Raisa is now working on another challenge: mastering the English language.  She has many English textbooks that she brought with her from Russia, but she acknowledges that the best way to learn a language is to practice.  And practice. And practice.  To her amazement, this additional practice was made possible thanks to trips to the dentist.

When Raisa was granted a “Women in Need” grant for extensive dental work, she discovered that the best dentist to meet her needs was in Bothell—a far distance from her residence in Renton.  She was soon connected with the Volunteer Transportation program to make these trips possible, and the long, regular rides allow for hands-on English lessons.

Raisa lists many of her volunteer drivers by name—Tom, Chelley, Steph—as well as the VT South King County Coordinator, Jacob.  “I love them!” she exclaims.  They help her with her pronunciation; they provide her with feedback about her grammar and word choice; they explain why things are the way they are; they work very hard to assist her; and they notice her progress.

Raisa has lots to say about her volunteer drivers/English tutors: “They are wonderful.   I am touched by their generosity and patience.  They are never late.  They have very clean cars.  They are always smiling and always wanting to help.”

Raisa reports that her sons are surprised at how well she has adapted to her new life in America.  She says that this is due, in part, to the many resources that have helped her with the transition-- including the Volunteer Transportation program.  Raisa has grown accustomed to her many new realities, but she is still in awe of the kindness and friendliness of the many Americans she has met since first moving to Renton in 2006. She is happy with her life as a proud American citizen.

(In spite of being a part of Senior Services, our Hyde Shuttles serve many folks who are not seniors!   The service is available to people with disabilities as well.  This is one such story).


Olivia  can be found on the Highline Community College campus Monday through Friday.

Olivia Williams, a regular Hyde Shuttle rider, is going places.  At 17, she already attends Highline Community College fulltime (thanks to the Running Start program) and has both short-term and long-term goals.  In the immediate future, she’d like to maintain a high GPA; achieve respectable scores on the SAT’s; and improve her strength, health, and mobility.  In the more distant future, she’d like to pursue her interest in the sciences and passion for helping others by becoming a pharmacist. 

Olivia is clearly ambitious but describes herself as: laid back, introverted, and independent.  She also acknowledges that various facets of her character have been formed by the fact that she has a disability.  She explains, “I have cerebral palsy.  I was born three months premature.  A lung collapsed-- causing my brain to hemorrhage, which affected the part of my brain that controls my movements.” 

Olivia reports that she has never felt bad about suffering from cerebral palsy because it is the only reality she has ever known, and she knows that a lot of people are in a far worse condition than she is.  Cerebral palsy has forced her to break free from her naturally shy shell to advocate for herself.  “I can’t be a wallflower,” she says.  It has also caused her to be more driven.  “I have to prove to people I can do this,” she adds.  In addition, she admits that having cerebral palsy has also caused her to be more cautious.  She recognizes that she is more vulnerable than others and needs to adapt her lifestyle accordingly. 

This is where the Hyde Shuttle comes into play.  Olivia did not feel comfortable taking the city buses to her daily classes at Highline Community College, and the stops were an unmanageable distance from her home.  Therefore, she was incredibly pleased when she discovered the Hyde Shuttles. 

Olivia found the smaller-scale shuttles to be a good fit for her needs and preferences.  She labels them as very convenient and expresses relief that they are always on time.  She also says, “The volunteer drivers are really nice, interesting, welcoming, and friendly.   You can tell that they really want to be there.”   She is very grateful for the service and the personalized attention she receives.  She now rides the shuttle five days per week.

The Hyde Shuttles will not provide Olivia with her transportation forever.  In addition to completing her AA, obtaining her bachelor’s degree, and attending pharmacy school, she has another plan: acquiring her driver’s license.  But, as she continues on her life journey, the shuttles (and their helpful volunteer drivers) are there to support her in her efforts to dream big and travel far. 

This week’s post features another testimonial from a 77-year-old woman who knows are programs well.  Here is what she recently shared with us:

“I use both the Hyde Shuttle and Volunteer Transportation programs.  I don’t know what I’d do without these services.  I used to drive everywhere as a social worker caring for mentally ill veterans, but you never know what shocks life has in store for you.  I got very sick a few years ago.  Everyone thought I was going to die.  After spending 7 months in the hospital, I remarkably survived.  Even the doctors were shocked when I came out of it alive.  However, I was no longer able to work or drive.  I now depend on these forms of transportation and can’t say enough good about them.
The drivers are delightful and have made me feel so much better about losing my independence…  They are absolutely wonderful!”
*Mary Lou B., regular Hyde Shuttle and Volunteer Transportation client

Her story echoes that of many other clients who unexpectedly have to stop driving after overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles.  As always, we are humbled and inspired as we learn the stories of Mary Lou and others like her who have beat the odds and triumphed in the face of adversity.

Nancy R., an 83-year-old Bellevue resident, used to volunteer regularly in the Radiation/Oncology Department at the Overlake Hospital until the unfortunate day that she tore her rotator cuff.  She consulted with her doctor, who determined she would benefit from weekly physical therapy appointments.  But as a Medicare patient, her options were limited to facilities in either Issaquah or Kirkland-- none in Bellevue.  She was unable to drive herself to either location or pay for cabs, so her doctor recommended Senior Services’ Volunteer Transportation to assist her.

Nancy has been incredibly happy with her VT experience* (*SEE HER LETTER BELOW) and has been able to dramatically improve her health over the past few months. She states, “Both the Doctor and the Physical Therapist are very pleased with my progress. Now that my health is improving, I can move on with my life.”  Nancy has recently resumed volunteering again at Overlake.

Just as Senior Services’ Volunteer Transportation has helped Nancy get to her medical appointments, Nancy has been adamant about promoting our program to family, neighbors, and friends.  She has even copied her own brochure and has given the information to her doctors in hopes that Volunteer Transportation can assist others.  Nancy has direct experience with the benefits of Volunteer Transportation, and she knows how vital this program can be for others to remain strong and independent. 

We wanted to share Nancy’s exact words with you, so here is the typed letter she sent to our office:

To: Senior Services
Re: The Volunteer Transportation Services

This is a tremendous organization, and it has been a real BLESSING for me!  Without it, I would not have been able to take the Physical Therapy I needed when and where my Doctor wanted me to take it.  Every one of your drivers that I met was most helpful, friendly and wonderful.  I was greeted with a smile, asked if I need help, and talked to as if I were an old friend.  All these things in a time of discomfort and maybe a little stress were an enormous gift!  I knew when I called I would get a time if it was available and if not, Amy would work with me for the next best option.  Usually, my contact was Amy, but I also talked with Donald and Jacob—all gracious and working to help me.

I have recommended the program to other people, and given copies of your brochure to 3 Doctors’ offices. 

I think you can tell that I have no complaints!  Just a sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU!

Sincerely,
Nancy Reynolds

It’s always affirming to receive such positive feedback from the clients we serve, and we appreciate Nancy’s efforts to spread the word about our program to others in need.  It also brings us much satisfaction to know that our program helped her get back to the volunteer commitments, routines, and activities that support her overall wellbeing.   Keep up the good work, Nancy!

There are many extraordinary individuals involved in the Volunteer Transportation program, and this story began as an attempt to profile two such commendable people: Bill Goodfellow (volunteer driver) and Sophie Friedman (frequent client).  However, it soon became clear that the most meaningful and significant messages would not be found in separate articles detailing their unique personal histories or contributions to the world at large.  Rather, the true inspirational lessons can be learned when Bill and Sophie are together.  After all, our drivers and clients do not exist in isolation; the value of our program comes from the interactions that take place between them.  Bill and Sophie are incredible people each worthy of recognition in his/her own right, but there is great poignancy in their time alongside one another.  Their special connection illustrates the compelling power of driver-client pairs.

Bill gently escorts Sophie to the door.

Bill is well-known around the Volunteer Transportation office because of his immaculate mileage sheets.  His clear printing and precision undoubtedly stem from his years as an architect, and his systematic way of thinking also translates to the way in which he carefully calculates the pick-up time for each of the 3-4 rides he takes on per week.  He has even created his own complex form that he uses to compute ride times/distances and record information about clients.  He explains, “It’s complicated in a way that I understand complications.”

Bill describes Sophie as “96 going on 60… or maybe even 16!”  She has an adventurous spirit and proclaims, “I love things I’ve never tried before!”   Her lifelong commitment to exploring new frontiers is apparent in the tales she tells about taking her three sons camping every summer for two weeks at a time (while her husband stayed at home) or taking her first nausea-inducing flight from New Jersey to Boston (with a stop in Hartford for refueling) on a propeller plane in 1935.  It must also be noted that Sophie made arrangements for this interview through email.  At 96-years-old, Sophie fully embraces new technology.

Sophie and Bill share a lot in common.  They both enjoy classical music; they both have a grandson named Gus; and they both appreciate good food and social occasions.  But perhaps their most unmistakable similarity is that they both have amazing stories.  When they are together, stories abound.   The time that Bill has spent driving Sophie to numerous medical appointments has allowed them to get to know one another so well that they can prompt each other to talk about their lives (“Tell her about your wife’s orchids”), and they can even finish each other’s stories.  The afternoon passes quickly as they talk about wide-ranging personal and historic topics, and they are surprised to discover that several hours have already passed.   Bill must quickly rush off as he discovers that he will be late to another commitment.

Sophie moved to Seattle from New Jersey (via Florida) two years ago, and she says, “Bill is the best thing that has happened to me in Seattle.”  Bill and his wife, Dee, have been a great source of support for Sophie, and it is evident that Bill is always looking out for her with a watchful and protective eye.  Bill and Sophie are certainly a dynamic duo, and much can be learned from this driver/client partnership filled with mutual respect and admiration.

Laurabelle will be 98-years-old this October.  She walks without a cane or walker and lives in a condo in downtown Bellevue.   She said her doctor would not be surprised if she made it past 100 years old!  She says it has been an interesting life.  Her relatives came to the United States before we started keeping immigration records and fought in both the American Revolution and the Civil War.  Laurabelle moved here in 1945 because her husband grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and after WWII wanted to finish his education at the UW.  Laurabelle worked for the telephone company for 42 years.  Back then it was called Pacific Tel and Tel; it is now Century Link.

Her husband passed in 1994, and Laurabelle has been on her own ever since.  Like many other older adults, she takes pleasure in living independently and not burdening family members for transportation.  She loves to play bridge and until recently lunched with all of her old friends from the telephone company.  She drove herself up until a few years ago, but decided it was time to give it up when she lost her depth perception in one eye.  A long time friend and former volunteer driver told her about Senior Services’ Volunteer Transportation Program. 

We have now been assisting Laurabelle to her medical appointments for the last three years and she says, “This program has saved my life.” Laurabelle credits her ability to stay in her own home to Volunteer Transportation.  “If it was not for this program and seeing my doctors, I would probably be in a retirement center.  I could not survive in my own home without these volunteers.”  She says she will continue to utilize our program even after she turns 100. 

ONE OF A KIND: Volunteer Transportation Client Brings Life to Rides

The following story comes to us from the May 2013 edition of AgeWise King County:

Claire Anderson lost her vision in a matter of seconds due to an optic stroke.

Sightless in Seattle: Adventures with My Guide Dog is available through Seattle Public Library. For more information, click here.

An optic stroke left Claire without sight when she was 64 years old. She did not allow her "legally blind" status to impact her active lifestyle.

Claire goes to the Monroe Correctional Complex every month to participate in the prison group's philosophical round table. She leads a memoir class at the Ballard Northwest Senior Center. She is involved in other activities as well, including public speaking, teaching, and even sewing.

Claire's yellow Labrador retriever DaVida is her constant companion. DaVida stars on the cover of Claire's book about vision loss titled Sightless in Seattle.

It takes courage and willingness to overcome personal challenges and barriers, and to live your life making a difference in the lives of others. Claire makes that difference.

For more information about this remarkable woman, visit Claire's website at www.claireanderson.net.

For more information about coping with vision loss, read Access to Technology for Vision Loss and Insight: A Low Vision Expo 2013 in this issue.

You may recognize Claire from the King County Mobility Coalition video highlighting our Volunteer Transportation program.  Here it is for your enjoyment:

This is Mary Lou's story, in her own words:

“I use both the Hyde Shuttle and Volunteer Transportation programs.  I don’t know what I’d do without these services.  I used to drive everywhere as a social worker caring for mentally ill veterans, but you never know what shocks life has in store for you.  I got very sick in 2003.  Everyone thought I was going to die.  After spending 7 months in the hospital, I remarkably survived.  However, I was no longer able to work or drive.  I now depend on these forms of transportation and can’t say enough good about them…The drivers are delightful and have made me feel so much better about losing my independence…  They are absolutely wonderful!”
*Mary Lou B., regular Hyde Shuttle and Volunteer Transportation client

Betty often takes a travel wheelchair with her to appointments.

Betty L. is a 90-year-old SeaTac resident who has a lot of things to worry about.  She has a bad hip and back, arthritis, poor vision, tooth pain, and heart problems.  On top of it all, she used to have the added strain of finding transportation to see the dentists, doctors, specialists, and surgeons overseeing her medical care… But not anymore!  Betty discovered Senior Services’ Volunteer Transportation program in 2005, and she has been a regular client ever since.

For Betty, Volunteer Transportation has transformed the process of getting to and from medical appointments from times of much anxiety and concern to pleasant, interactive experiences.  She says, “The program means everything to me!  It takes away all the stress I used to have with finding transportation.” 

Betty also adds, “The volunteers are all so nice!”  Some volunteer drivers have taken her all the way to Burien or Bellevue for appointments with specialists, and she describes how several volunteers were “incredibly helpful” after she’d had a cornea transplant.  Conversations with her drivers have spanned many topics, ranging from household chores and yard work to themes of a more personal nature.  She says, “One man is a singer, and we talked a lot about music.  Then, there was even one woman who had graduated from the same school as me!”  She reports that her drivers always find ways to make her feel comfortable and relaxed.

Betty admits that she is certainly not worry-free, but Volunteer Transportation has made her life considerably easier.  She exclaims, “I don’t know what I’d do without it!”  We are glad to have tackled her transportation troubles.