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Stories From the Heart
(Inspiring real life accounts from those often over-look)
A Place All TheirOwn
The Human Camera
DD Orphan Rescue
J-Mac
A Very Special Wedding
If you have a "Story From The Heart" you would like to share on our website,
Contact us at: openingdoors@wtfs.org
Photos by Mark Weber/The Commercial AppealBy Amanda McGee Robbins
Special to The Commercial Appeal
April 29, 2007Both Keith Greenwald and Damien Stewart work two jobs; together they share the household expenses.
The house was move-in ready. "All the furnishings are Keith's and Damien's," said Carol Greenwald, Keith's mother. "I don't think we had to buy but one chair."Keith Greenwald's new home on Highland Park Place may seem small from the outside, but its 2,200 square feet hold three bedrooms and two baths.
Keith's favorite room is the master bedroom in the finished attic. It has built-in closets, drawers and a desk. Keith had to add a staircase railing to meet code for homeowners with Down syndrome. West Tennessee Family Solutions and First Tennessee helped him buy the place.
The grin on Keith Greenwald's face, as he opens the door to his East Memphis home, says it all: This is one proud and happy homeowner.
Keith, 34, has always wanted his own place, but that dream seemed out of reach until recently. Keith, who has Down syndrome, lived with his parents, Carol and Jim Greenwald, in their Midtown home until two years ago, when he moved into a rented Cordova house supported by West Tennessee Family Solutions.The nonprofit agency assists intellectually disabled individuals to live independently, helping them with jobs and household management.
Still, Keith wanted his own home. When he received a back payment owed him from Social Security, the Greenwalds couldn't pass up the chance and started house-hunting. Realtor Martine Hobson of the Germantown office of Prudential Collins-Maury, Inc., was more than willing to help. "My daughter has Down syndrome and I was so excited about this," she said.Although the Greenwalds wanted Keith closer to their own home, their search for the right house took them throughout the city. "We even looked on Christmas Eve," said Carol. "And nothing was quite right. Some were too far away from us or there was no privacy for housemates or they needed too much work." They also wanted a house that would be close enough to a retail area that Keith and his housemate, Damien Stewart, 26, could walk to the grocery or pick up a movie from a video store.
Then, three days after it went on the market, they walked into the pristine white house not far from Poplar Plaza and knew they'd found a gem. The house, built in 1940, is much bigger than it appears from the street. The 2,200-square-foot house, which cost $167,000, features three bedrooms and two baths as well as a living room, dining room and family room. "The house was move-in ready and that was important to us because we didn't have the resources for a big redo," said Carol. They didn't even need to buy a lot to furnish the house.
"All the furnishings are Keith's and Damien's," said Carol. "I don't think we had to buy but one chair, and, of course, some things were passed down through the families."
The rooms are painted in neutral tones, accented with white molding and, in the family room there are built-in bookshelves. A small room in the center of the house, anchored by a table and two chairs and a tall corner cupboard, serves as the "pass-through" room, a place for all the paperwork of the agencies that help Keith and Damien.
Off to one side is the kitchen and on the other is a hall that opens to a full bath and two bedrooms, one of which is Damien's. The other is being used as a game room, but could be converted to a bedroom for another housemate, should Keith and Damien need to further share household expenses, said Carol. "One thing that was very important was that they have privacy in their own rooms because this place is everything for them," she said.
The family and dining rooms at the back of the house are a newer addition, along with a large deck, offering lots of views of the private backyard. There's also a sprinkler system for maintaining the yard, although Keith and Damien share the lawn-mowing chore.
Keith's room and bath are on the second floor in an attic area that was enlarged. The cedar-board ceiling gives the room a lodge feel and one wall houses a system of closet space, built-in drawer storage and even a built-in desk. And proudly displayed atop furniture and on bulletin boards are the many trophies and ribbons that Keith has won as a Special Olympics athlete in weight-lifting and swimming. "My favorite thing in the house is my room," said Keith, "and to have my own place."
Carol said the upstairs bedroom was perfect for Keith. "In our old house, I remember he once asked to move into the attic. And now he's got his upstairs spot." Damien said he likes everything about the house. "I like living on my own. And I've got a nice roommate." Both Keith and Damien work two jobs; together they share the household expenses. They also share weekly trips to a fitness club and are active in People First, an advocacy group.
Jimmy and Melanie Macon, with West Tennessee Family Solutions, assist the young men daily with their household routines and management, with the help of several family counselors.
"West Tennessee Family Solutions made this happen," said Carol. "They could have said, no, this isn't one of our houses, but they didn't. They've helped us so much." The home search, as well as setting up financing and getting all the inspections needed for licensing standards, took about six months. "I didn't even know, really, if people would be willing to work with us," said Martine. "But I called Debbie Moore at First Tennessee and she was willing to look at anything and everything that was available. So even though there are obstacles, with support, people can make their dreams come true."
Carol said that having a house has been Keith's dream since watching his brother, Chris, as well as other friends, get their own places. "We don't have any family within miles and that's another reason it's a good feeling that Keith is in this place. I feel roots here for Keith. He has his home until he no longer needs it. The dream came true for us." Back to top
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Stephen Wiltshire: The Human Camera in Rome ..... ..... Stephen Wiltshire: The Human Camera in Japan
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Lesson From Home Helped Orphan Rescue
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., June 25, 2007
Lt. Jason Smith and wife Kara met in high school. Now she's a special ed teacher and he's stationed in Iraq. (CBS)Jason’s unit rescued 24 Iraqi orphans — special needs children found naked and starving to death. The soldiers brought them to a better orphanage, brought them supplies and toys — and brought them back to life. Click on link below for incredible heart-wrenching story.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/25/eveningnews/main2976559.shtml
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J-Mac...
February 23, 2006
A sports story out of New York filled our office with joy and even got a few of us choked up. Its about a high school basketball team student-assistant, who happens to be diagnosed highly functioning autistic.
17 year old Jason McElwain (affectionately known as J-Mac), a senior at Greece Athena High School in Rochester, New York, has been the team manager throughout his high school career. Normally he helps the team during work out drills that head coach Jim Johnson puts them through during practice and before games, but for the last game of the season coach Johnson had him suit up to possibly play for what would be his first and last time.
Many of the fans were on hand hoping to see J-Mac just get in the game. Finally, with four minutes left on the clock, coach Johnson did not disappoint them. The crowd got really excited and gave Jason an ovation that later, coach Johnson said moved him nearly to tears. But after missing his first shot by some six-feet, coach Johnson's emotions changed somewhat to pity as he quickly prayed "Please, Lord, give him a basket."
His prayer was quickly answered.
One minute later J-Mac was given a chance to redeem himself, and did he ever. His second shot from beyond the arc (a three pointer) swished right in the basket. The crowd went absolutely bonkers. After that, J-Mac said he "caught fire". They kept feeding him the ball and he kept taking three's and they kept going in- a school record six times in a single game.
J-Mac ended up with 20 points for the game, and was carried off the court on the shoulders of his teammates - a hero.
Click on the following link for more information on J-Mac's remarkable story from the heart. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11526448/Update on J-Mac:
Jason McElwain was awarded the 2006 ESPN "ESPY" award for the "best moment in sports" category. Back to top______________________________________________________________________________
A Very Special Wedding..
A new generation of people with Down syndrome are living longer, finishing school, getting jobs and now--with a little help--beginning to marry.
This is the touching story of Carrie and Suj. I can't begin to do the story justice. Please click on the following link: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1214946,00.htmlMore information about the wonderful musical career of Sujeet Desai is available at: www.sujeet.com
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If you have a "Story From The Heart" you would like to share on our website contact us at: openingdoors@wtfs.org
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