Deep Gratitude

On a beautiful fall Saturday morning in September, ten hard working volunteers devoted their time and energy to building one complicated ramp for D.J., a sweet lady of 95 years.

Six of these dedicated volunteers work at Pediatric Therapy Network as social workers and nurses. One of them, Shannon, is 6 months pregnant with a baby boy - talk about dedication! I don't think I've come across a group of more positive, spirited individuals as enthusiastic about making a difference in someones life. Given their line of work, they clearly recognize what an important cause they are supporting.

Another one of our volunteers that morning was Michael, a friend of Bill who is one of our veteran team leaders, who was visiting us from England. In talking to Michael, it was evident that he was extremely impressed with the scope of our cause the sheer number of ramps we build.

We are able to do what we do because of our team leaders and our volunteers. They deserve endless praise for their efforts because they are the ones changing lives with each and every build. Our clients are forever grateful - I see the smiles on their faces and the tears of gratitude in their eyes - and they are grateful to you.

D.J. is no exception. Her lovely daughter Lucy, pictured here in the yellow shirt, had only reached out to The Dallas Ramp Project in late May/early June and just a few short months later we were in her front yard building a ramp to freedom for D.J..

D.J. and her family have lived in their lovely home since 1944 but getting in and out of the house was getting increasingly difficult for her as her legs just don't seem to be working, as she described it to me. Eager to put her new power chair to good use, D.J. was so looking forward to trying out her new ramp.

This story is not a new one. It is one of many that make up the fabric of our organization. Our volunteers are essential - they are the thread that binds us together - so please keep coming back. There are many others out there, like D.J. and her family, that need us.

Answered Prayers

The W family was in dire need of The Dallas Ramp Project's help. Meet Virginia, pictured here, and her sweet son Michael. Not pictured here is Virgina's mother, who lives with them, and who is afflicted by Alzheimer's. Virginia's husband is also not in this picture. He suffers from complications from diabetes. The W family has three members that rely on wheelchairs for their mobility.

Michael and his story truly impressed me. He is very accomplished and leads a full and active life. In fact, Michael was a member of the National Honor Society in high school (how many of us have that claim to fame?) and has a certificate in horticulture from a nearby college. He loves to get out there and work in the yard, tinker with the truck his grandfather gave him and enjoys playing with his nieces and nephews.

Michael has Cerebral Palsy and is a quadriplegic. He has overcome tremendous obstacles in his life and continues to do so every day. Michael has built a community of friends and supporters online and engages with the outside world on many different levels - and all by the use of a "head mouse" which enables him to break through his physical limitations.

Virginia and her family have faced some very difficult times. In fact, several years back their main vehicle was stolen out of their driveway. It was later found - burned beyond repair. Their story ended up being published in the local newspaper and people took notice. In fact, Jupiter Chevrolet came to their rescue in 2001 by presenting them with a brand new van that was fitted to accommodate their needs. Their prayers were answered that day.

On Saturday, their prayers were answered once again. Though they had a ramp for many years, it was in severe disrepair. When a social worker told them about The Dallas Ramp Project they called right away. A few days later we came out to survey their house and the build was planned.

On a hot July morning a group of about ten young men from the Trinity Christian Academy, along with Peter, one of our skilled veteran team leaders, came out to help. They were eager to learn and focused on their task. It was a big project but well worth it. Carson, one of the young volunteers, told me that it was rewarding to help give people the freedom they deserve.

This one new ramp will be used by three members of the household. One family's life has been changed - their prayers answered once again - all thanks to our generous volunteers and loyal supporters.

Vernell's Build in Action

Hello Readers! This is a very special post because it includes two video clips of our dedicated volunteers in action. Enjoy!

On a sunny Saturday morning in June, seven volunteers came out to southeast Dallas to build Vernell, pictured above with his wife Thelma, a new ramp.

Vernell desperately needed his old ramp replaced because it was truly dangerous. In fact, Vernell had taken a very bad fall off of his motorized wheelchair about 3 years ago because their old ramp was so worn down the middle. Since then, it has been just plain scary for Vernell to get in and out of the house. Like so many of our clients, Vernell has been risking his life on a daily basis just leaving his home.

Just last week he was referred to The Dallas Ramp Project by a social worker at Parkland Hospital. A call was placed to our organization last Thursday and by Saturday, Vernell had a front yard full of talented builders working on his ramp to safety and freedom.

Vernell is a diabetic and is afflicted with several complications stemming from diabetes. Life has presented a set of challenges to Vernell but clearly nothing he can't overcome - that's for sure. In talking to him I could tell that he has a strong mind and a strong will. Like our volunteers, Vernell is a dedicated man. He's a deacon at his church and before that was a long distance truck driver for forty years! He's lived in his house since 1959 - nearly fifty years!

Vernell, and his sweet wife Thelma, are both eternally grateful to our volunteers - this new ramp is going to enable Vernell to get back involved with his church. Not to mention the fact that Vernell and Thelma are newlyweds - they have a lot of life to enjoy - including a honeymoon!

Now a few words on our volunteers. If you played either video you can tell that it's hot out there and our volunteers were working hard. And they really, really do. They get the job done and they manage to have some fun doing it.

This build was made possible because of Bill, our veteran team leader from GE, four volunteers from the Grace Community Church in Plano and several volunteers from the King of Glory church here in Dallas. It's clear from talking to Jim, one of our regular volunteers, that building these ramps is truly fulfilling.

Thank you to all of our volunteers for changing the lives of our clients - one story, one ramp, one build at a time.

March & April Means More Ramps in El Paso

March and April were busy months for the El Paso ramp project. Many volunteers came together to build safe ramps for those desperately in need of them.

Several UTEP students, assigned to get this project off the ground, have been working hard to make sure that El Paso becomes a permanent home for the Texas Ramp Project. They also recognize that building ramps would not be possible if it were not for the devotion of those volunteers who have been dedicated from the beginning. Thanks to them, the El Paso community continues to benefit by giving their clients the freedom to leave their homes.

A few builds in particular come to mind: Josefina G. is a heartbroken woman who lost her granddaughter in December. Her family had hidden the truth due to her medical conditions and she had just learned the sad news when we visited to survey her mobile home. Her brother and nephew had built her a temporary ramp, but it did not have the angle appropriate for her safety. Josefina had no other way out of her home so she had been using it. We showed up just in time to help bring independence to this lovely lady. She even called us ‘angels’. She said that thanks to people like us, everything was possible. Her tears moved us. The Sergeant Majors once again made independence possible as Mac, one of our devoted volunteers, assisted with this switchback ramp.

Lucy Y. is a sweet lady who is currently sleeping in her living room unable to move comfortably in and out of her home. Lately, the fire department had to assist in transporting her out of her home so she could make her medical appointments. Her family was so grateful to our organization - even her grandson, though he seemed ready to use the ramp for his own skateboarding purposes. Overall, this family was left with smiles of gratitude on their faces. Her ramp was built by psychology students who were taught a great deal by Mac.

Ann C. has spent the past 3 years bound to her bed. Though she has a loving family who support the best they can, for years she could not leave the house due to a stroke. Though her devoted husband built her a cement ramp, getting in and out of the house was still impossible as it was just unsafe. She mentioned feeling afraid each time she had to leave the house and was grateful that we were there to make a safe ramp she and her family could use without any precautions. Her tears said it all.

The El Paso Ramp project surpassed the expected amount of ramp builds during these months. These five builds would have not been possible without the assistance of Mac. Mac showed interest in February and has been to every build since then as a helper, team leader, and teacher.

Mac is a retired Allstate Adjuster and has been providing volunteer time through the AARP for the past 4 years. AARP is a membership organization leading positive social change and delivering value to people age 50 and over through information, advocacy and service. He showed up to help on the first build in March and quickly became a team leader for the following four builds. His innovative ideas have made ramps quicker to build while keeping them safe for the clients.

One of the biggest obstacles we have overcome is having a truck to move the lumber. Mac seemed to arrive from the sky just in the nick of time. Other than being the first to volunteer, his truck is the reason so many ramps are currently up and useful. This project requires more than the will to lend a hand and Mac has met so many of our necessities as a new organization. There are not enough or the right words to express how grateful the El Paso Ramp Project is to have found an angel here on earth, in Mac.

The lives of each of these clients, and our volunteers, were all changed due to this organization - and to Mac in particular. El Paso truly is a better place thanks to his desire to help and make a difference. Thank you, Mac, for making it all possible.

Your blogger had a baby!

Hello everyone! Just a short entry to apologize for not getting an April post on the site. I have been a bit preoccupied as my precious daughter arrived in this world on March 21st. Needless to say we have been very busy these days! Please look for a new post in May.

Helping Others...Starting Young

James H., pictured here on the left, has a sharp sense of humor and a laid back way about him. He has a positive attitude and a determination to live well, despite his numerous health problems.

Originally from East Texas and born in 1943, James is a spry soul that spent almost all of his life right here in Dallas. He has some great stories about driving a "wrecker" to and from lots of far-off places like Laredo, Texas, Sacramento, South Carolina and even Monterrey, Mexico to rescue cars - and their owners. James has several family members in the area that call and visit and friends on his block.

James suffered a stroke last September and lives with both diabetes and heart issues. Getting in and out of the house and just around in general is a big challenge for him. His feet are sore and they cause him a lot of pain. Walking has become very difficult which makes it tough for James to get to and from his various doctors appointments.

Though life is not easy for him, he "tries not to give up" - ever. He has been blessed in that home care physician has just recently approved a wheelchair for him. Then, through the City of Dallas, he found out about The Dallas Ramp Project. He called and a few days later a leader from our organization came out to survey his property. Luckily, James' landlord allowed the ramp to be built to accommodate James and a build was scheduled.

So, yesterday, a cold and windy March day veteran ramp team leader Mac and a group of six volunteers from the North Garland High School Beta Club came out to build James a ramp. Katie, Jazmine, Julio, Becky, Gurbans and Austin were all bright eyed and eager to see their ramp come to fruition. The motto of their Club is "helping others in the community to help themselves." I'm not sure school spirit gets any better than that, that's for sure!

Thanks to Mac and our North Garland High volunteers, James is able to live his life to the fullest.

El Paso Ramp Project Gets Busy in February

The El Paso Ramp project was quite ambitious during the month of February. Once they found out that Fort Bliss soldiers were eager to help, they decided that building two ramps would be a piece of cake. That was completely evident on the Friday night before the build. The volunteers showed up ready to work and all that could be done was to stand back and let them get down to business.

Saturday morning was no different. About a dozen soldiers showed up to the first site and within 10 minutes, tools and manpower were divided up between the two sites. Once again, all that could be done was stand back and watch them take the projects into their own capable hands. Their energy, determination and leadership skills were astonishing.

These soldiers are in the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) at Fort Bliss and come from different parts of the nation and all walks of life. All of the soldiers were united in their desire to help other people. Their eagerness to help the community just could not go unnoticed. Not to mention the fact that neither soldier was actually from El Paso.

During their nine month stay at the USASMA in El Paso, they have taken this community under their wings and volunteer in many ways throughout the city: From building ramps to building houses for Habitat for Humanity.

“I think it’s great, offering freedom to people who need help and to their families who assist them every day,” said Master Sgt. Marc Hickey, a USASMA Class 58 student and ramp project committee chairperson at the academy. “Otherwise, these people are restricted to their homes, and that’s just not right.”

The homes in the central area of El Paso were built next to the mountain and during a time when accessibility was not a major concern. They have a traditional look with porches and high steps which make ramp building a challenge. For most of these homes, the El Paso Ramp Project focuses on building the ramps from the back door with an additional small ramp for the front porch. Thanks to these sergeants, two clients in this area were able to receive ramps that helped them immediately.

Maria S., one of our recent clients with diabetes, fell a year ago in her bathroom. She has lived in her home since 1966 and found it difficult to get out of her house after the incident. She found our organization and her ramp was built within a couple of hours. To our amazement when our team returned thirty minutes after the build was finished to pick some of our supplies, we found her sitting in her backyard enjoying the sun. It was truly amazing to find her there because before that morning, it would have been impossible for her to have done something so simple as sitting in her backyard and enjoying the early spring on her own.

Azaela P., another El Paso Ramp Project client, was unable to live with her mother because her home was just plain inaccessible. This young medical assistant experienced three strokes within a two year period which severely affected her mobility. Her strength and noticeable desire to live life to the fullest made this ramp build extremely fulfilling for everyone involved. She was ready to live with her mother and join her out in the world once again.

These families were helped thanks to the generous volunteers we found at Fort Bliss, the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.

The Texas Ramp Project Builds in El Paso

The Texas Ramp Project has finally reached El Paso! On this beautiful January morning, the El Paso Ramp project focused on its third ramp of the day.

Esperanza’s husband, Octavio, was attentive and helpful as the team set up the area to begin the day. Although the morning was crisp, the sun beamed and the winds stayed away allowing the team to work hard on the task.

Octavio kept himself busy and went out of his way so we could meet Esperanza and take her picture. She was unfortunately not feeling well that day, but allowed me a few moments of her time.

During our visit, Octavio explained that the hospital vans that pick up Esperanza sometimes have a ramp that fits perfect on the side of the porch, but not always. For this reason, the ramp our volunteers are working on today is especially helpful for Esperanza. He explained his own health conditions and, through teary eyes, emphasized how this will him because carrying her down the steps is extremely difficult.

Esperanza has only been in the wheelchair for a month and she is able to walk a few steps with a walker. She gets extremely tired and is unable to climb down the high steps of her front porch. Esperanza is quiet natured and once loved gardening. She spoke of watermelons, she had in her garden, which got huge and gestured the size with her hands. Her assistant explained happily that she will probably spend more time outside again this spring now that she has a way to get outside and into the back yard.

The Texas Ramp Project assisted this devoted husband who drives Esperanza the 40 miles to the hospital for her necessary medical care. This ramp was a blessing not only to Esperanza, but also for her caregiver, Octavio as well.