What a Ramp!

Broderick is the strong, silent type. His warm smile will stir your heart, his lively eyes are so expressive, they take the place of the words that are difficult for him to say.

Broderick is blessed in many ways: he has a big network of people that support him; his doting mother is there for him in every way and then there are his friends who call on him regularly. A lover of animals, Broderick has a pet bird and two chihuahuas. His family's home - where they've lived for 39 years - is warm, inviting and big enough to entertain all of the people that stop by just to visit.

Broderick has suffered through spinal meningitis and battles sickle cell anemia as well as several other health complications due to both conditions. The outlook is not good for Broderick, most likely his condition will worsen and soon he will be wheelchair bound.

Getting out of the house is crucial for Broderick and his quality of life. Up until now, Broderick has needed assistance in getting out of the house with his walker and down their front porch. Lately it's been very hard for him to navigate those steps - even with the help of his mother.

Thankfully, Broderick's care worker from the City of Dallas suggested that Mrs. P call The Dallas Ramp Project. Well, she did and just a few short weeks later a team of volunteers came out to their residence.

Four of the volunteers were with Girls Inc. a non-profit organization that works to empower women through volunteering and community service. Two of the volunteers were very polite and hard-working young men - aged 14 and 15 - both were tasked with community service for being late to school but mentioned that they loved the Ramp Project so much they were going to come back in the next few weeks...just because. The other three volunteers, veteran ramp builders themselves, had the vision and expertise to build this ramp - which ended up to be over 44 feet long.

Thanks to The Dallas Ramp Project, Broderick has one more thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday.

Hellen's Ramp To Freedom

You would never guess that Hellen V is nearly 80 years old. With her lively eyes and energetic spirit, she has the heart and the soul of a woman decades younger than her true age.

Having raised nine children on her own, Hellen is fiercely independent and determined to make it on her own - and, she has, quite successfully. At one point, she even managed two full-time jobs. To her credit, Hellen is now a matriarch of a family that spans five generations.

Plagued with heart problems and diabetes, lately it has been harder for Hellen to move around on her own and especially, to leave her front porch due to the steps that follow. Thanks to the help of one her fellow congregation members at her church, Hellen was introduced to The Dallas Ramp Project.

On a crisp Saturday morning this fall, several volunteers from GE along with a veteran builder came out to build Hellen a ramp so that once again, Hellen get out into the world on her own - just the way she likes it.

Mary H: One Happy Client

The following is the text of an email that Mary H's daugher sent to John, president of The Dallas Ramp Project, after we installed a ramp at her home:

Hi John:

Mom doesn't go out anymore without someone with her. She had to go to see about an orthopedic modification to one of her shoes and a friend took her today. First outing since the installation of ramp.

REPORT: A++++ Usual routine helping Mom down the stairs, seeing to it that the backdoor is closed, any lots of little details. Then upon return to house, getting things in the house while Mom sits in the car. Today, Mom, I'm told, made it down the ramp - no problem. When friend brought her home and was taking groceries into the house, she turned around and discovered Mom had gotten out of car, closed car door, and was halfway up the ramp. BIG step toward some independence (as much as she can have under circumstances) and BIG BIG help to friend/volunteers and ultimately me. I am sooooo happy.

Thank you so much for the photos. I was hoping to get the group picture of her and the volunteers. I know she was hoping to get a copy. Is that doable?

Anyway, today was an incredibly successful day for her and me. Everytime someone was having to watch her go down the two steps, I feared either a leg or foot was going to cave in and it is a lot of responsibility to place on a friend or volunteer and the ramp has provided a considerable amount of comfort in soooooo many ways.

BTW, I've been singing the praises of the "ramp project" at work. One of my colleagues here has a niece in Plano and she has a child with cerebral palsy. I gave him the information to look you up on the website. I'm sure your article has increased your inquiries exponentially. I am just so grateful that I found the project when I did. Congratulations on such a successful and meaningful venture. How refreshing.

Marilyn

Powerful Community Spirit

Upon hearing Gradie's story, one word comes to mind: community. A resident of Dallas for nearly forty years, she has always been a most active member of her community and has worked with those around her to make their neighborhood safe from crime and drugs. As the awards and certificates of recognition from the City of Dallas will attest, she has been a great contributor to society.

An elegant woman with pretty grey curls, Gradie has a sharp mind and a quick wit. She is a great grandmother with a rich history of giving back to society. She worked for the Salvation Army in Waco for years and, at one point, led their 32 piece band. At one point in her career, she could play almost any instrument. A talent not shared by many, that's for sure.

After three strokes, a brain hemorrhage, bouts with seizures as well as complications due to diabetes, Gradie is finding life increasingly challenging. She is slowly losing her eyesight because of macular degeneration and is finding that every day tasks are much harder than they used to be - including her daily walks.

With the help of her most supportive roommate, Kathy, and her lovely daughter Mary, as well as her service dog King Solomon who they lovingly refer to as "Soul Man", Gradie has been able to take her walk and get some fresh air. However, lately the stairs in front of her apartment complex have been very difficult to navigate for her - even with Kathy's help. Gradie, being the resourceful person she is, did some research on the internet and found out about the Dallas Ramp Project and sent an email requesting help.

Just a few short weeks later, a group of eager volunteers showed up at Gradie's apartment complex to build a ramp that will enable Gradie to get from her apartment to the parking lot so that she does not have to tangle with the troublesome steps any longer. Gradie really enjoys getting out of the house - for her walks, to go to the store and for the occasional dinner out - and now, thanks to the Dallas Ramp Project, will be able to do so without the fear of falling. This time around, it is Gradie that is thankful for her community - and for the community of volunteers that support the Dallas Ramps Project.

Sincere Appreciation

Doyle and Florence have a lot to be thankful for this November. Doyle made it clear that only a miracle could have saved his wife – and he believes one did. On September 27 2006, Florence had a stroke and a brain aneurism. It was her birthday. Her aorta was torn and even the doctors did not think she was going to survive. Miraculously, she did and she is coming home from the hospital on Tuesday, November 7 2006.

Though elated upon hearing the news that his wife was coming home, Doyle was also fearful about how he was going to get his wife, who is in a wheelchair, to and from the car into the house as the stroke left her totally paralyzed on her left side. He shared his concerns with the office manager at his mobile home community who introduced him to The Dallas Ramp Project. In Doyle's view, finding our organization was simply another miracle.

So, on Saturday, November 4, a chilly gray morning, a group of hard-working volunteers from the Young Men’s Service League came out to the family's home in East Dallas and built a ramp that extended from the front porch all the way around their house to the start of the driveway. The ramp was installed just three days before Florence is due home from the hospital. Doyle was so appreciative, simply overcome with gratitude; you could see tears in his eyes. He is in awe of what God has done for him and his family – his wife, and their adopted fourteen year old grandson, Blake – to get them through this most difficult time.

A most distinguished looking gentleman with white hair and a gentle smile, Doyle marveled at the fact that your whole life can change – as it did for his family – in a twinkle of an eye. Thanks to The Dallas Ramp project, life has just gotten a little bit easier for them.

Herman H: Thankful Every Day

Herman does not celebrate Thanksgiving – he is thankful every day. You can tell from his smile that he has a most vivacious spirit and a great amount of determination. He’s full of great advice and is an avid observer of people, places and things.

Herman was shot when he was a senior in high school – caught in the wrong place at the wrong time – and as a result, has lived the past forty years paralyzed from the waist down. Herman’s handicap does not stop him from getting out of the house. In fact, he is quite mobile, traveling nearly three miles via his motorized wheelchair to the supermarket to do his grocery shopping. From all accounts, Herman is a great cook and whips up a storm several times a week. He lives a very full life by giving back to his community, being a good neighbor and brother to his six siblings. He keeps his mind sharp by doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku. Not to mention taking care of Precious, his Pug mix who just delivered seven puppies which have certainly been keeping them both busy to say the least!

Recently, getting out of the house was getting progressively harder for Herman. The ramp that he had been using was rotting and getting quite dilapidated after several years of use and exposure to the elements. So, Herman reached out to one of the organizations that has helped in the past and in just a few short weeks on a cool, crisp day in late October, a team from the Dallas Ramp Project came out to build Herman a new ramp. After just two efficient and lively hours of work, Herman had a brand new ramp extending from his porch to nearly the end of the sidewalk. The ramp is even wide enough for Herman to turn his chair 360 degrees around.

Thanks to The Dallas Ramp Project, Herman has one more thing to be thankful for this year – and beyond.