Taking Flight Newsletter May 2019

May 2019

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Birthdays Deborah Abendroth (In-Home) Paula D. (1250 Hoyt) Benjamin Rose (Harmony) Jason H. (Demont) Victoria Ishola (Demont) Cynthia Boateng (1250 Hoyt) Kelly F. (Glenpaul) Diane Goodlow (Skycroft) Pearline Merchant (Troseth) Megan Krech (Glenpaul) Tametria Gillespie (Harmony) Youa Yang (Plato) Laurie Z. (In-Home) Sarah Olateju (Skillman) Brittany Fishbaugher (Oliver) Muna Dinle (Oakland) Brady E. (In-Home) Shakira Jakes (Oliver) Rebecca Johnson (In-Home)

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Cheyenne Burns (Glenpaul) Lisa Jones (Colfax) Andrew Schultz (Harmony) Madina Uwineza (Thomas Ave) Christopher P. (Woodbridge) Lori S. (Thomas Ave) Gail H. (Portland Ave) Katelyn F. (Wentworth) Kendra Bradley (Harmony) Jason Fortney (Maintenance) Catherine Forkpa (Wentworth) Manga Anang (Harmony) Adama Kargbo (Fairview) Robert W. (29th Ave) Shelda Thompson (Plato) Mari Drefcinski (16th Avenue) Anne Perry (1250 Hoyt) Diana M. (In-Home)

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Anniversaries

Jenn Blomberg (In-Home) 1 yr, Victor Littlejohn (In-Home) 1 yr, Shirley Saydee (48th Circle) 1 yr, Celeste Washington (In-Home) 1 yr, Eleaisha Jackson (In-Home) 2 yrs, Oluwafemi Modupeoluwa (Aurora) 2 yrs, Sarah Thompson (In-Home) 2 yrs, Deborah Croom (In-Home) 3 yrs, Nakisha Hargrove (In-Home) 3 yrs, Uchechi Okwara (91st Street) 3 yrs, Suado Moalim (Oliver) 4 yrs, Naima Sheikh-Hussein (91st Street) 5 yrs, Julie Leiferman (Plato) 7 yrs, Kimberly Weldon (In-Home) 8 yrs, Phyllis Lee (Sheridan) 10 yrs, Floyd Robertson (29th Ave) 12 yrs, Hue Tran (16th Ave) 13 yrs, Adebowale Phillips (Sheridan) 15 yrs, Olufemi Obikoya (1489 Hoyt) 23 yrs, Crystal Jackson (Plato) 29 yrs, Sharron Aken (Harmony) 31 yrs, totalling 176 years!

Are You Up For a Challenge?

The ladies at Glenpaul have decided to do a health challenge and the staff are invited to participate as well. We are going to be working out, tracking steps, drinking more water and making healthy choices for lunch and dinner - more fruits/vegetables vs. chips. We will be tracking everyone’s progress and there will be a prize at the end of the month.

The ladies all had input into it and are all helping plan the dinner menus. If you’d like to participate in the challenge, please contact me at 651-776-2885. ~Michelle Ryan~

Congratulations Casey!

Casey from 11th Ave has been on a weight loss journey for almost a year. She had tried many different diets. Nutrisystem didn’t work so well for her, so then she met with a weight loss specialist who had her try a low-calorie diet. She also went to several occupational therapy appointments where she used a weight bearing device helping her to use her legs to move around without using her wheelchair. We are so proud to announce Casey has lost over 40 lbs and counting. Great job Casey and 11th Ave staff! Casey is also known as “The Diva of Glee Club.” We know every choral group must have an official diva and we are proud of Casey and all of our members. ~Priscilla Johnson~

Please Welcome Please help all of us welcome Tyler to Skycroft. He enjoys spending his time watching movies, collecting and playing with stickers, and going for walks. He spends time on the weekends with his family watching his sister play hockey, and going to the cabin. We are excited to have Tyler join our home here at Skycroft. ~Deb Hofbauer~

Meet Mike from 1489 Hoyt--Fellowship Ambassador Mike R. is a sixty something man who had lived in a nursing home, assigned the middle of three beds in the room.

Each bed was kept surrounded by its curtains for privacy. This placement was not for medical reasons but because it was what was available at the time. When Mike moved to 1489 Hoyt, it became apparent that he had a huge interest in the world around him after being so cut off and, after trials, was found to be pretty street-safe too. Mike got a computerized watch so staff could keep in touch with him while he was out walking his neighborhood every day by himself.

One day, Mike wandered into a Chinese Christian church, and liked it there so kept coming back. He would call the church, too, collect flyers and papers written in Chinese, and bring them to his House Coordinator, Mary Austin, as gifts. One day Mary received a phone call from a woman who identified herself as a retired pastor of the church. Her name was Faith. She said she and Mike had become fast friends, and she wanted to invite Mary and Mike to lunch at the House of Wong. Mary and Mike went and since have had lunch there with her 4 times! Faith also sends him cards and visits him at his home from time to time. All on his own, Mike had sought fellowship in the community in a place that he would never have found out about on an outing with his staff, and made a new friend. Every month, Wingspan celebrates one of its six Core Values, one of which is Fellowship. Let’s put Mike in charge when Fellowship Month comes again! ~Maureen Merrill~

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Taking Flight

is published monthly by Wingspan Life Resources Executive Director Therese Davis Editor Pam Carlson The mission of Wingspan Life Resources is to help people who are challenged by age, ability or health to realize their own unique gifts, talents and dreams. We fulfill this mission by providing individualized support services that promote personal choice, independence, dignity and fellowship with the community.

Please email us your changes to mailing address or email address: Contact mbrannan@wingspanlife.org

With Deepest Sympathy Oakland home expresses sincere sadness at the recent loss of Laura’s father, Tom. He was such a dedicated advocate for his daughter over the past 50 years. He was a role model for all of us. Tom was devoted to Laura, expressed continued appreciation for all of the staff that worked with her, and for Wingspan as a company. He was a favorite for all of Laura’s housemates, including and perhaps especially when he brought the green St. Patrick’s Day doughnuts each year. His steadfast energy, kindness, and communication were so greatly appreciated by all of us. A quote from a card says it well, “Gone from our sight, but never our memories--Gone from our touch, but never our hearts.” ~Lori Mason~

Empowering Abilities. Nurturing Spirits. Caring For Life.