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.