Stepping gingerly off the Intouch Adult Day Services bus on a blustery November Friday, 75-year-old Jo Ann Letts looked a little suspicious.
The retired nursing assistant — who spends most weekdays at the Intouch center — was surprised to see members of the staff standing in front of a second bus, parked in front of her modest apartment on 17th Avenue in Moline.
Channeling Ty Pennington of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” the crowd gathered roared “move that bus!” A few moments later, a shocked Letts froze in disbelief in the doorway of her apartment, which had been transformed from somewhat drab and barren to homey and inviting in the six hours or so she’d been gone.
“Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed, as Lynda Vogt, director of Intouch, explained that her apartment was made over as part of the Wish List Quad-Cities effort. “I’m getting spoiled. I don’t know if I deserve all this, but thank you.”
Letts’ concern that she didn’t deserve it came as no surprise to staff of Intouch, who spent the prior week shopping and all day Friday feverishly working on the makeover.
“She is one of those people you can’t ask what she needs, because she always defers to someone else,” Vogt said. “She’s a giver and has been a giver all her life. It was time to give back.”
And give back they did.
With a budget of $1,000, the crew upgraded the late 1970s motif in which the apartment was frozen.
The pea-soup-colored green carpet in the living room was replaced with a cream throw rug, new insulated drapes adorned the windows and a new recliner and wardrobe replaced old furniture. Letts’ bedroom was redecorated in blue — her favorite color — and a festive table was set in the small kitchen.
Maybe best of all, L&W Bedding of Moline chipped in with a donated twin bed. Letts’ old mattress and box spring were so battered, she piled blankets on top to cover up the spots where the springs were starting to push through.
The makeover crew added pillows, bedding and a thick comforter. In the living room, a small Christmas tree was put up, with presents underneath to be opened next month.
Vogt said Letts — who is a widow with no family in the area — lived in this same apartment for 18 years, and has not had any new furniture or furnishings since she moved in.
Letts walks with the aid of a walker, and suffers from osteoporosis, arthritis and hypertension. Vogt speculates the years she gave helping others with physical ailments took their toll on Letts’ body.
Despite the health issues, Letts remains one of the most upbeat people you’ll meet, said Karen Ohrberg, who volunteers at Intouch.
“She’s such a friendly person,” Ohrberg said. “To be able to do something and give back to her is exciting.”
Vogt said the hardest part to springing the surprise was keeping Vogt out of the business office where the new home furnishings were hidden.
“Her priority for the day is to give everyone a hug,” she said. “Our biggest challenge this week was coming out of the office and hugging her before she could get in there.”
Tears welling up in her eyes, Letts had plenty more hugs to give out following the big “reveal.”
“I’m just a little overwhelmed,” she said. “I knew I had a lot of good friends at Intouch.”source
Nursing assistant training-Certified nursing assistant job
Where to find a free CNA training? |
