dennis

DENNIS TOOMEY

FULFILLMENT
Written 1995

In 1942, when I was 6 months old my mother saw that I wasn't developing like the "quote"' normal child. I mean I had some intelligence, but was different. Anyway she took me to the doctor and he told her to put me away and have another child. My mother almost murdered the doctor. However, there was one doctor in all of the country that knew cerebral palsy. He was in Baltimore. So my folks took me to Baltimore and he put them on the right track. Well, he told them to treat me like any other child. He said he will progress, but it will be very slow physically. So then I went to school for the handicapped, back in those years polio was rampant so because of my communication they kind of held me back. So I guess my mom decided that a home teacher would be best.

I should add that my sister Cathy came along in 1947. Anyway, back to my education. I was home from the second grade to the beginning of the sixth grade. By that time Cathy was beginning school, so I guess I got kind of cantankerous and I said, "Mom I want to go back to school," and she pleaded with me that I was getting a good education where I was at home, but I said, "Mom I want to be with other kids." She said OK, but remember if it doesn't work out it will be very difficult to find another home teacher. So anyway I went back to school all the way through high school. The handicapped school that I was going to opened a high school class. When I was in my senior year I got the big idea that I wanted to go to college. My dear folks scratched their heads, so mother took me to college every day for the first year and then my father took me a couple nights a week for 4 years. That's how I got my 2 year degree (associates degree). And then again they scratched their head, I wanted to have a job, I wanted to be an accountant. I made the post office very busy. I sent out over 200 resumes and I think I got 150 Xeroxed replies, "we will call you." By the way my sister Cathy growing up going to school, was keeping my folks busy too.

In 1969, I got my first account. I did the work before computers on a typewriter and calculator. I look back and I don't know how I did it. At one point I had two typewriters going at once. In 1976, my father passed away April 25th. My mother was not able to help take care of me, so I went to a nursing home which I think was very good for me because all through the years my folks did everything for me, even answering the telephone. I was very fortunate to find a nursing home with very very cooperative staff. I had to fend more for myself than I did at home with my folks. If I may add something, I remember the first night I was there lying on my back and thinking that this is just the end of my life. It was like somebody turned out the lights. What do I do now? But, I went on my first date while at the nursing home, and I went to my first wedding. So it wasn't all bleak.

I saw that computers would take over my job, so I decided to go back to school which the staff again were very cooperative and helped me to do this. In 1980, there was a woman who worked there and she was thinking of semi retirement so one day she came up to me and asked, "How would you like to live in my apartment?" She was looking for somebody and so I moved in with her in October. In December we came out to California for Christmas and I fell in love with California. When I went back, in March at the end of my winter quarter I came home one day and it was cold, I said I was disgusted. I marched into the apartment and said, “Hey how would you like to go to California?" (her family was out here). She said, “OK OK, calm down, calm down you're tired." I said, "No I'm fed up with this weather." So at the end of March we moved to California with Lily. I lived with Lily near and around Upland until 1987, when she died. Then I moved in with a Spanish family in Pomona. Then in 1991, I went to the Regional Center and I was trying to get a job. They told me that they couldn't fit me anywhere, so they referred me to CHOICESS.

For the past few weeks, I have contemplated the question of how CHOICESS has changed my life. I soon realized that my life has not been changed, but rather, fulfilled with the help of CHOICESS.

Little did I know that I was doing a Personal Futures plan over forty years ago when I day dreamed aloud to my dear Mom. "Someday," I would say, "I wish I could have my own home and work in an office." Mom would smile and nod and continue knitting. "And you know what?" I continued, "wouldn't it be neat to be able to have my own van?" At this point, Mom would put down her knitting and quietly say, "Yes, Dennis, someday you will."

I could go on and on with my reminiscing, but the dreams of yesteryear are the realities of today. And then there was the bungee jump...but that is another story.

When I was four years old, I had much difficulty speaking. Mom worked patiently to get me to say two very important words. Today these two words have special meaning. CHOICESS, THANK YOU for helping me to fulfill my life.

christy continued