Stories

Randy's Birthday

Randy had a birthday party.  That in itself is not amazing, as many people have birthday parties.  But Jamie Watson attended the party, and said this:

This is what touched my heart. Randy who has impaired vision was told of every detail of what was going on. Staff described the layout of food, presents and all who attended. Although it was Randy's party, everyone felt included.  Everyone talked about their birthdays that would be coming up.  No one was left out.  It could easily have been a party like any other party where people don't have disabilities!  

Dreams take many forms.  The ordinary, though, can become the extraordinary for someone who doesn't usually get to experience a familiar, ordinary common activity.  Randy can't see.  This time, through the eyes of others, Randy saw.  It brought tears to Jamie's eyes.  Does it bring tears to yours?

Cherry's Retirement

How many people do you know that have worked at their job for 21 years?  That is a long time to hold employment for anyone these days.  I know someone who has and has loved her job every step of the way.  Her name is Cherry Chivington.  Cherry started working at Pizza Hut washing dishes in 1988 and retired June 26th, 2009.  Wow, what an achievement.  Cherry has had the support of her family, co-workers and job coaches throughout her time of employment there but all the hard work was done by the one who matters most, Cherry.

To Cherry, her job was not about the paycheck.  As Cherry put to me she didn’t even like saving her money, she spent it all on Sun-Chips and Coca-Cola.  Cherry enjoyed the sense of responsibility her job gave her and the pride she earned in being part of the community.  Cherry says she liked making people happy by giving them clean dishes to eat good pizza on.  Every morning when Cherry arrived she would play Mrs. Packman until it was time to eat.  She would also like to check out what new songs were in the juke box.  But the games and food were only a few insignificant things that her job at Pizza Hut had to offer her.  Cherry had the most important thing in the world waiting for her at work every Friday, a friend.  Mrs. Robyn Huntley was the most perfect natural support for Cherry.  Robyn and Cherry had an alliance called “Social Club” and they were the only people allowed in it.  They would talk about family, struggles or triumphs at work and home, what they did over the weekend, television shows and just life in general.  I remember the first time I job coached with Cherry she told me, “This is Robyn and we are in the Social Club and sorry, you can’t be in it.”  I did not take this as offensive but heartwarming to know that she had something that special to look forward to when she was working.  So forget about the times Cherry said it was too busy or too hot, she enjoyed her time there anyway.  Not only did Cherry have nice things to say about the people she worked with, they had some great comments about her as well.  Robyn said that, “Working with Cherry has been an inspiration, a pleasure, a blessing.”  Robyn said that this past Friday was a dose of reality when she looked out in the dining room and didn’t see her sitting there eating lunch.  She said the restaurant was missing a little bit of spirit.  Robyn wishes her well and hopes to see Cherry when she comes to visit.  She also wanted me to tell her, “Cherry, I miss you to the moon and back.”  The manager, Will, also shared his well wishes for Cherry and he was actually the one who had the idea of Cherry, “retiring” rather than “quitting”.  He said that if it was time for her to leave then she would do so on a good note, with pride.  He has worked at Pizza Hut with Cherry since he was 16 and said it has been an experience he will not be forgetting.  Cherry also expressed how much she missed her friends at Pizza Hut and that she couldn’t wait to visit, eat lunch and have another session of “Social Club”.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if everyone we supported could have a job?  Not to mention a job for 21 years- WITH A BEST FRIEND!  I am very happy for Cherry as is everyone that has had a chance to work with her.  She turned in her uniform to Pizza Hut on June 26th and brought tears to all who attended her retirement party.  I would like to say on behalf of everyone at Monarch, Pizza Hut and the community, thank you and congratulations Cherry!

 Written by her Job Coach, Kelley Hutchinson

Helping a stranger in need

On March 20, 2009, staff Chakka Wilkes and several people we support were discussing current events.  One of the people mentioned a story that he had seen on television the previous night. He had heard about Rita Tucker, an elderly lady living on Oak Summit Street in Winston Salem.  Ms. Tucker had until March 27 to come up with $1500 or her home would go into foreclosure. She had been living in her home the past few months without heat or power because she had become disabled and was unable to pay her bills.  As a last chance, she decided to hold a yard sale and sell hotdogs and hamburgers to raise enough money to pay the bank.

Upon hearing about this story, the folks discussing the current events decided to help.  They got in a van, and went to Ms. Tucker's home, and helped with the sale.  They helped with cooking and other activities.  The news station WXII12 came to the yard sale and did a video story that played that evening.  Our folks were on TV.  One of the people we support told the TV audience that we are all supposed to love one another, and that takes action.

The rest of the story?  Ms. Tucker was given checks by two strangers to meet the mortgage payment.  With the money raised from the sale, her life should be a little easier for a while!

A letter to our President

 Dear Mr. President,

      First, I'd like to congratulate you on becoming our countries 44th president.  Mr. President, I am following closely by watching news broadcasts, of almost all you do.  I'd just like to say that I don't expect you to do every thing within 4 years.  I know that your job is a difficult job.  Yes our economy is in bad shape and yes I know that you can't fix it in one flow swoop.  By the grace of God and with many prayers that God will give you the wisdom and the courage to make the choices that are necessary.

Mr. President I sorry to say that I did not vote cause I really don't understand politics.  Most times politicians lie and cheat the American people.  I have seen a change take place and you have only been in office for two days.  I am glad to say that I am proud of you and yes what you said to your cabinet before searing them in is true we all have to be held accountable and it must start at the top.  I did not get to come to Washington, but I did watch it and record it from my living room.

Mr. President I have a disability and I live in an apartment complex run by a company called Monarch.  I am being taught how to live independently, I'm in a home where the staff that work with me care about me when no one else does.  It's a little town and a small complex only 8 live here.  I have a job at a garage and I also have a car.  I have been worried about how the economy will affect me and my friends and the people who work with us.  I have worried that I might lose my home and my friends because of the harshness of the economy.  I hope and pray you will turn our country in the right direction so that we and people like us don't lose our home or the people that work with us.  Like I said, I know you can't do it all in 4 years.  I do have faith you will give all you can give to help our country.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter may God bless you.

                                                               Joel Lewis

Bowl for Kids' Sake

In New Bern at The Strike Zone, several ladies regularly bowl on Thursdays as part of a Special Olympics League.  The ladies noticed a fund raiser for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and decided to participate.  They wanted children to achieve their dreams of big brothers and sisters.  The ladies obtained pledge sheets, and were able to raise donations from $1 to $100.  On March 14, 2009 the two teams, "The Push Pins" and "Pin Busters" had a wonderful time bowling, and earned $1533 for the charity.  During the event, the ladies won prizes for strikes and spares, such as movie tickets, Chick-Fil-A coupons, sponsors caps, and restaurant coupons.  Look at this team!

 

From Rock Bottom to Endless Joy

A long time ago I was diagnosed with a mental disease that was just serious enough to be the last thing I needed.  At that time, I was struggling through tech school and working full time.  I also have an abusive past, coming from a broken, dysfunctional family with alcoholic parents.

The physical abuse was about as bad as the chemical imbalance in my brain.  There have always been problems with jobs, girlfriends, or any other social activity.  From the time I was small, everyone just said that I was strange or weird or even stupid.  I guess I first noticed that there was a big problem when I rebelled once-and-for-all by not going to my high school graduation.  I was trying to make a statement--illustrating my peers not liking me, and I, in return, rejecting them.  I felt as if my little plan worked beautifully.  I finally had a voice among all these nasty name-callers, bullies, hypocrites, and arrogant jocks.  I felt as though withdrawal was the ultimate way out.

Since then, I've been through three suicide attempts, the last one being the one I never thought I'd recover from.  I was wrong.  After being at Cherry Hospital for over three years and quite a few trials and tribulations here and there, I seem to have reinvented my thinking.  Most important to me is that I've found God who plays a major role in influencing my character.  I now live at a supervised apartment complex [with Monarch] with my Beagle, Rodney Cucumber. He, too, was abused quite badly before I rescued him on 9/11/2006.  The fact that I adopted Rodney on that terrible day is living proof that something good can come out of any day.  Rodney and I are the best of friends as we share our little bachelor pad.

I have three different volunteer positions at church tutoring kids and being on the Christian Education Board.  I play guitar in a contemporary Christian band called "Blazin" Hearts."  I've also been through WRAP classes and I have a certificate in Peer Support Training.  I apply what I learned in these classes to any day-to-day event.  Because of motivation from professionals that I work with and a few friends, I have taken their advice and am writing an autobiography.  I am about halfway through it, having written some four hundred pages.

In just the last five years, I've come further than I ever thought I could.  Any time you ever feel oppressed about any given situation, just remember that as God's special children, the more we put up with here on earth, the happier we'll be when we end up in heaven.  God bless you beautiful people!

CHUCK "Double-E"

A Dream is now in Flight!

Chris has been working on his goal of finding part time employment.  Chris’s dream job is to be a grocery bagger. 

Unable to find his dream job, Chris accepted a job at Burger King and stayed employed there for over a year. He did very well at Burger King, but still had the dream of being a grocery bagger. 

Angela Bowen, Chris’s job coach at Forsyth Industrial Systems, continued to help Chris search for his dream job.  They applied at many grocery stores and finally after visiting a local Harris Teeter, his dream is a reality! 

Chris is now a proud grocery bagger at Harris Teeter on Cloverdale Avenue. His first day of employment was on Friday February 13, 2009. 

We have no doubts that Chris will work very hard to keep his dream job and will make us all extremely proud. 

Thanks to Angela for her persistence in making sure Chris not only found employment, but also making sure that he is in the position that he has been dreaming about!

 

Madeline’s Dream

When she was just a little girl, Madeline was severely abused. As a result, she suffered from blindness and mental retardation. Resilient is an understatement. Madeline joined Monarch in her early twenties with a desire for independence.

The folks at Monarch saw potential in this spirited young woman. She wanted her own home, without a house mate, and was determined to make her dream a reality.

We took Madeline seriously. Monarch gave her a chance others might not have. We taught her industrial cleaning skills and independent living skills, found her a job at a church, took her to and from work, and helped her manage her money. Despite her visual limitations, she was fantastic at cleaning the church. She made lots of great friends at work and even met someone special.

With the help of Monarch's residential services, Madeline moved into her own apartment and was enjoying life on her own when she decided she might take on a house mate after all. But, not just anyone. Remember that special person we mentioned? Well, Madeline and Jimmy are now married. Her Monarch family helped plan the wedding from the menu and cake to the flowers and guest list. A Monarch staff member even bought Madeline’s wedding dress. She looked absolutely beautiful. Now that’s happily ever after.

David’s Dream

We have a sense of humor. When David came to Monarch, he had about four words in his vocabulary – and they were not “G” rated. He actually had some sign language as well - use your imagination. That did’t shake us.

David was considered nonverbal with severe mental retardation. His behavior was self destructive. He would grab, kick, hit and pull hair if you got too close. The staff at Monarch believed that David needed and deserved a chance, and was trying to communicate to us through his behavior. We knew there was something special about David and that we could help him to direct his energy in a positive way.

David kept us guessing as we tried to introduce various things that might help him turn the corner. After many failed attempts at peaking his interest and holding his attention, something happened. Despite his roughness with most other things, David had a soft touch after all. When he was handed a seedling plant for the first time, he cradled it gently in his bare hands and a broad smile crept across his face. He was calm and cautious as he walked about the greenhouse eager to show everyone the tiny plant that would one day become part of a garden. He saw something in that seedling the same way we saw something in David. A future.

That was the start of a business venture that Monarch vocational services set up for David. We bought him his first greenhouse and connected him to farmers in need of a supplier. David even had his own roadside stand where he would take customers by the arm and show them his healthy new plants. He had a loyal following.

Mid-twenties is an age when someone like David has usually reached his maximum vocabulary. Not David. He continued to grow and interact with people and as a result, David began to talk. Nicely. He was happy and enjoying life.

Today, David is reaching out in many other ways. He is even helping to make a difference in his community by volunteering at the SPCA and at a children’s home. David has come a long way. We are privileged to be a part of this amazing transformation.

Jamie’s Dream

A hopeless case. That’s how many people see a kid like Jamie. In trouble with the law, kicked out of school, using drugs and alcohol. When the courts sent Jamie to Monarch, all he cared about was getting out. His parents gave up a long time ago. His grandparents were doing everything they could. It was not enough.

Jamie came to his counseling sessions angry and bitter. He continued to spiral downward. His Monarch counselor would not quit. She met with his grandparents again and again, talked with the school and with his court appointed lawyer. Then, Jamie got arrested. When Jamie did’t show up for a session, she tracked him down to reschedule. She met with him at home, school and detention centers. Next, Jamie got into a fight at school. She looked for creative ways to talk to him and things that would peak his interest. Finally, Jamie was put into a group home. Would anything make a difference?

When Jamie couldn't stand where he was any longer, he finally admitted, “maybe I have a problem.” He asked his Monarch counselor for help. She was there, unwavering in her commitment to help him. All of that persistence might pay off after all.

Through many tears, Jamie worked with his Monarch counselor day after day. She helped him and his grandparents mend their relationship. Then, she helped to connect them to natural supports within their community. Countless phone calls and letters followed. Monarch never stopped believing in Jamie. He was not going to become another statistic.

At Monarch, we don’t believe in hopeless cases. We believe in people. Today, Jamie is on the A/B honor roll at school. He spends time releasing stress at the gym and has found comfort in his spirituality. He often writes to reflect on his experience – about why he turned to substance abuse and how he plans to stay away. The future looks bright for Jamie. We feel privileged to know this amazing and strong young man and see a bright future for him.

In Their Own Words:
                  My Life as a Young Adult with Autism

Reprinted from Autism Speaks    (http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/ownwords/intheirownwords_corinne.php)

By Corinne Tribou

 My name is corinne and i have autisum spectrum disorder. and that means it effects my learning so that means i have learning problems to. Autism is a lifelong, developmental disability. Children with Autism have a difficult time learning in school. That means, kids with Autism leran differently than most other kids. But they can do every thing like you. Children with Autism may also have a different way of doing things. Children with Autism may have difficulty speaking. Some kids with Autism cannot speak, so they may learn to use a comuntcation deviceor a board with pictures on it to tell people what they want or how they feel. Having Autism is like trying to learn a new language or like trying to learn the rules of a very difficult game.

i have issue with touch, sound and a hyper sensativite to temperature. Autisum effects more boys than it dose girls and people can have different levels of autisum they can have some of the symptoms or some of all of them. I sometimes get upset when my routine is mest with or when things are moved around in my living space.

I was alot worse when I was younger. I did not want to be touched at all. I also had sezerus until i was twelve. I have acid reflucx, seasonal alergies a thyroid problem and a brain anurysum. I was in special ed classes all through school and in collegg i was in a special program for young adults with leraning dissabilaties.Also did special olympics for four years I did golf, bowling and bocec ball. My favorite things to do are sew, bake ,go shopping to the movies and hang out with friends. My best qualaties are Im giving, caring, freindly and loving. I have a lot of friends who care a lot about me and would do anything for me.

I like the way I am i think im a nice person. I would not change a thing i like everything about me.I dont like people in my space I get very uncomfertable and i dont like looking people in the eyes when im talking to them it makes me feel uncomferatble. I dont like hugs sometimes only when i know first. l think everything makes me the person i am today.I have moved all over the us because my dad is in the Coast Gaurd. I liked moving around besause I got to see alot and I have alot of friends from different states. Im glad i had my sister because it was a lot easier to move I allways had someone with me my age to do stuff with. And i get to travel to places to see my friends I enjoy flying by myself it makes me fell more independent and the more independent i am the happier i am. I will have my own apartment soon in N.C. they are for adults with disabilaties. They do alot of things shopping , going to the movies, bowling, dances and other activaties.