New Mountain Shadows Cedar house Resident, Laura. |
By Sheryl Wilde Author’s note: As I was writing this story, I recalled reading an obituary some time ago. I didn’t know the woman who died, but what intrigued me, was that the obituary was written by the woman who had died – before she died. Her obituary wasn’t the standard, impersonal list of dates and surviving relatives. It was, instead, the woman’s creed, the legacy she hoped to share with those still living, about how to really live fully, with no regrets, before you die. It’s simple advice I believe many of us already know, but perhaps it bears repeating here – as it seems few of us truly live it.
Here is an excerpt from the obituary, slightly paraphrased:
“If you want to do something, do it. Try it. Taste it. Go there. Go live. Be. Do. Smile. Enjoy the moment. It might not come again. Take it from me, I’m dead. Stop worrying about your weight. Eat the donut. Go to the show. Laugh out loud. Love one another. You never know what you’ll find.”
As I was thinking about this, it occurred to me how most of our Mountain Shadows residents truly live this advice. And, perhaps, the secret to living a happy life now may be found in the story below – a story about Laura, a new resident of Mountain Shadows Cedar house. Thanks to you, our Mountain Shadows Family, and your support, Laura is living life to the fullest. And she won’t let worries about her weight, or walking, or talking, stop her… from living her best life. |
“Laura has severe Cerebral Palsy,” says her sister Julie Witt. “On a spectrum of 1 to 5, Laura is a 5. She cannot walk, is non-verbal, and is legally blind. Mentally she is at the level of a 2- or 3-year-old.
“Laura lived at home until June of 2024. My parents were old school. They didn’t want her put into a home. My father passed away 2 years ago. My mom is now 93 years old. She’s 5 feet tall and weighs 90 pounds. She just couldn’t lift Laura anymore.” |
“Laura had a good life growing up,” continues Julie. “My mom had a large family of nine. My dad came from a family of ten. We had good relationships with all of our cousins. We saw them every weekend – and everybody loved Laura.
“I have such good memories of holidays with all of our cousins and family at the park. Everybody would be there – all 40 to 45 of us. All of the kids ran around, and Laura was in the middle of it all, in her wheelchair. She just loved it.
“No one treated Laura any differently. She was just like the rest of us. My mom packed her lunch, and she went to school every day.
“And Laura just loved donuts! They were one of her favorite things. So, I would make a lot of donut runs.” It was such a simple thing, but it made Laura so happy. |
“My mom was totally against placing Laura in a home,” adds Julie. “But she couldn’t even give Laura a bath anymore. I put Laura in the bath one time, and I almost hurt myself. It wasn’t safe for her. It wasn’t safe for me.
“A Regional Case Worker suggested we look into placing Laura at Mountain Shadows. I toured the community and really, really liked it.
“Laura moved into Mountain Shadows on June 18th – and it has been such a blessing! Since being in Cedar house, Laura’s life has changed 100%. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Mountain Shadows was God’s gift to me – and to Laura.
“Laura’s life is so much better at Mountain Shadows. She doesn’t just have to sit in the house everyday with my mom. Now she has other people to talk with.
“When I go to Cedar house, everyone is talking and laughing together. It’s fun to watch them. It’s just like a little family.”
Adds Brittin Parker, CIDP/A, Ash and Cedar Houses, “Laura has been such a good addition to Cedar House. The girls in Cedar have a lot of fun together. Laura is doing well. She often likes to sit outside with her roommate and just watch the cars go by.”
“Laura’s life is two-fold better,” continues Julie. “She’s enjoying herself. It’s probably the best time she’s ever had in her life. She and her housemates go to school together. She’s always busy doing something. She’s already gone to the San Diego Fair, the San Diego Zoo, and Seaworld.” |
“Mountain Shadows has been a blessing,” says Julie. “It was like God was looking over us and saying, ‘This is what you need to do.’
“Mountain Shadows is such a good thing for Laura. She’s so happy, and that really is all that matters to me.
“I would recommend Mountain Shadows to anyone. The House Mother, the nurses, the staff, everyone is so caring. It’s just a happy life for Laura – and I’m happy for her after all this time.
“We have a big family – and now we have an even bigger extended family. Everybody at Mountain Shadows loves Laura – they tell me that. Laura has a heart of gold and she’s just always so happy!” |
Our Mountain Shadows Family embraces all of our residents with love, in an environment where we share our lives together each and every day as every family does.
Together, we “Do it. Try it. Taste it. Go there. Live. Be. Do. Smile. Enjoy the moment. Laugh out loud. And love one another.” And sometimes – sometimes – we just eat the donuts together. And, maybe just this one time, we’ won’t worry about our weight when we do … In fact …
I think it’s time for a donut run.
How about you? |
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The Mountain Shadows Foundation – Because We CARE |
Thanks to YOUR SUPPORT, the Mountain Shadows CARE program provides recreational and social experiences to residents and participants adding meaning and richness to their lives.
It’s easy for you to help us continue to provide activities like this – activities that improve the quality of our residents’ lives in fulfillment of their dreams. Here are some ways you can help ensure these crucial activities can continue for years to come: -
Make a one-time donation today by clicking on the donate button below.
- Make a monthly or annual contribution.
- Leave a Legacy Gift.
To learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society, to include us in your estate plan, or to let us know if you have already designated Mountain Shadows to receive a legacy gift, please contact Mandy Huiras, Director of Development at: [email protected], or visit our website by clicking here:
Learn More About the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society Please share this story with your family, friends and co-workers to help grow our Mountain Shadows Family!
To learn more about Mountain Shadows volunteer opportunities, please click below:
Learn about Mountain Shadows Volunteer Opportunities Here |
Mandy Huiras Mountain Shadows Foundation
Director of Development
Contact Mandy today to learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation and how you can continue to make a difference in the lives of our residents:
mhuiras@mtnshadows.org |
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