Posted: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:33 AM - 7,801 Readers
By: Denise Gamino
At 79, Verta Mae Cowan got a break in her hardscrabble life near Lake Travis.
Cowan, a widow who has worked nonstop for 70 years, received an outpouring of support during the American-Statesman's Season for Caring campaign. Cowan's story was one of 12 featured.
The campaign reached almost $442,000 in monetary donations and more than $80,000 worth of goods and services provided by readers.
"It is heartwarming that in this challenging economy, the people of Central Texas still do what they always do, and open their hearts to people less fortunate," said Statesman Publisher Michael Vivio. "To raise more than $65,000 over last year's total just shows how amazing our readers are. The Statesman is so proud to partner with our readers to help make things better for our neighbors in need."
The campaign meets the needs of the featured families first, but money will help hundreds of other people served by the nonprofit agencies that nominated the families.
Through Season for Caring, Cowan has a remodeled home with repaired plumbing and wiring, and new cabinets, appliances, floors, bathroom, doors, back porch, heater and bed.
A decades-old $1,200 hospital bill for a broken leg has been paid off by Randy Greenhaw, a retired computer program analyst for the IRS.
"I thought about my own mother," he said. "With old age comes a lot of aches and pains. What she had was an extraordinary burden added to that. I wanted to at least take one burden off."
Dr. Timothy Gueramy, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in ankle problems, is ready to repair the slipped rod in Cowan's leg that has been pressing on her arthritic ankle.
Volunteers with the Lake Travis Crisis Ministries, which nominated Cowan to the campaign, performed most of the work on her home.
Cowan said she was grateful for the support. "I'm just glad it's fixed," she said.
Other Season for Caring families also experienced outpourings of support.
Amy Hembree, 18, and 10-month-old daughter Willow, who has spina bifida, received a car, clothing and a house full of furniture.
Recently, LifeWorks, the agency that nominated the Hembrees, learned that First United Methodist Church in Elgin is securing a mobile home for Hembree that is in better condition than the one she currently owns.
Just two days after Christmas, Theresa Tafoya, 41, received a liver transplant to heal her primary biliary cirrhosis, an autoimmune disease, at Baylor Hospital in Dallas.
She no longer is itchy or fatigued, and her skin has lost the yellow hue. This weekend she was able to come home to visit her three children. In two months, she should be able to return to Austin permanently.
The greatest gift was "to feel the community around me; to feel that people that do not know me were anxious to be involved," said Tafoya, who was nominated by Wonders & Worries, which helps children with chronically ill parents.
The campaign did come with sadness. Martin Morales, who had Parkinson's disease, died last month. He was 78.
"We are truly saddened by Mr. Morales' passing," said Krystal Wilson, communications coordinator with Family Eldercare, the agency that nominated Morales. "He was a wonderful person and a true treasure to the Austin community, we will all miss him."
Through the campaign, Morales received a scooter, a reclining lift chair and clothing. Plans were in the works for more nursing care and a communication device.
Donations received on behalf of Morales will help other Family Eldercare clients.
The health of Alejandro Nute, who needs a kidney transplant, is deteriorating. The 18-year-old recently has had seizures.
Any Baby Can social worker Brenda Cornejo said Nute was close to having a permanent doctor. That will allow Nute to be put on the transplant list. Three readers also have agreed to be tested to see whether they are a donor match.
Nute's mother, Ignacia Eduardo, hopes the paperwork will go through before her son gets worse.
"He barely eats now. He's always down and tired," Eduardo said. "Ever since the seizures he has little motivation."
Through Season for Caring, the family received furniture, including a bed for Nute, and Christmas presents.
