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At Luther Home of Mercy (LHM),
a faith-friendly organization serving Lucas, Ottawa, Wood
and Sandusky counties, our dynamic staff work
round-the-clock to bring out the best in people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Since 1928, LHM has been
offering extensive residential facilities, pastoral care,
day programming, community housing, and supportive living.
Tailored to meet individual needs, services range from just
a few hours each day to 24-hour care. Several programs are
offered affording those we serve to live as they choose,
while providing the support needed to fulfill their hopes
and dreams.
Over the years, I have
come to work with many people in my role as Assistant
Director of Supportive Living Services and to form
friendships that have impacted my life. Sue is one of those
friends. A 1961 graduate of Central Catholic, Sue really is
a friend to everyone she meets. Friends say she is a social
butterfly and she doesn’t mind that at all!
Before Covid-19, Sue
volunteered at Advent Day Program, participated in a Bible
study group with her friends and invited former classmates
over for fun. According to Sue, “I love being with people
and living here gives me every opportunity I need. The staff
are great and I am well cared for.”
For more than four years,
I have worked with Sue and others in her home. I am asked
often---“what makes you love your job?” I can honestly say
that it is people like Sue and all of the clients I work
with who bring sunshine to my life. Others say, Tammy, you
have the patience of Job---and I simply say, “not really, I
just love working with people with disabilities.”
Rewarding, genuine and
caring friendships like this are hard to define. Working
with people with disabilities keeps me humble. This
population gives me a greater understanding that life is not
just about me.
Life is about caring,
sharing and loving (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Giving back does
not have to be just monetary gifts. It can also mean giving
your time. When one gives his or her time, blessings come
back 10 fold. I am a living testimony of the blessings that
I have received over the years working with this population.
From time to time, my husband reminds me that I am servant
by nature. Resonating on his words, I guess I am a servant
by nature, because I love to serve. I could have chosen many
different career paths, but it was meant for me to stay on
this path.
On my journey in life, I
have studied many fields of disciplines from nursing to
psychology. It was not until I stumbled upon the field of
Gerontology (study of the aging) that I found a calling. I
knew that I loved to surround myself with elders, because
they had so much knowledge and not necessarily schooling,
but life knowledge that I could learn from.
While pursuing my degree,
I needed to work as most college students need to. That is
when I started working in the intellectual and developmental
disability field. And it is where I found my love and
passion for individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities.
It makes me feel good to
see my clients smiles---even from the littlest gestures. One
of my clients that I work with, sees me, and instantly asks
me to help him get a cup of coffee. To me, this is his way
of showing that it is time for the two of us to hang out and
spend time together.
Another client whose
vocabulary is limited, always share a joke, and engage in
conversation whenever we are together. Even though his
vocabulary is limited and difficult to understand, I am able
to understand him. Staff would ask me, “How do you
understand him?” I often respond, that he and I have a
special bond. Giving him the attention makes him feel good
and it makes me feel good seeing I was able to put a smile
on his face from our interaction.
Many of the individuals we
serve do not have family close by, so staff becomes their
family and best friend. These clients are my extended
family too, and I treat them as such. My passion for the
field has taught me the love of my clients, wanting to get
to know them more, as well as being their voice even when
they can’t speak. Everyone has a right to a voice, whether
they are verbal or not. I am my client’s voice. I invite
you to consider joining us at Luther Home of Mercy---where
you can also become a voice and a new best friend!
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