Go Buckeyes!

Although she loves football, it’s not always easy being a fan. When most of us tune in on a Saturday to catch our favorite college team play, we usually gear up in green and white, or maze and blue. But Elizabeth, a client at Moravian West, stands out. She is a fan that proudly sports scarlet and gray. Born and raised in Ohio, she will proudly tell you she’s a Buckeye fan, and has been all her life.

Despite being such a die-hard fan, Elizabeth had never been to a game. Of course she wanted to and often spoke about it to Moravian West Residential Program Manager, Beth W. One of the impressive things about Special Tree’s residential staff is their passion for taking client’s interests to heart. This was the case when Beth surprised Elizabeth with tickets to the OSU vs. Penn State game. Just as impressive were the RSTs who traded in their Spartan gear for, gulp, the forbidden colors of the Buckeye to travel to Columbus, Ohio with Elizabeth for her first Ohio State football game.

It was an early morning and a long trip, but Elizabeth will enthusiastically tell you it was worth it. Walking into Ohio Stadium was a dream come true. Dressed in her OSU best, she cheered on her team to a victory of 38 to 14 against Penn State. A victory that she’s still smiling about.

Now when Elizabeth tunes in to watch the Buckeyes play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, she’ll watch the game from a different perspective. She can now tell her fellow viewers that she’s stood among thousands of screaming fans as the Buckeyes stormed the field and personally felt the excitement of a victory. Go Buckeyes!

Wayne County Festival of Lights

By Jessica Bahny

Activities Team

NeuroCare Center              

It’s that time of year again! Nothing welcomes the season like some great holiday lights! Each year we plan to take our clients to the Wayne County Festival of Lights at Hines Park, and the past few years, it seems as though the floods have kept us out! That hasn’t been the case this year. Each Thursday night this month, we are planning outings to see the lights. On the 2nd, my coworker Kari took Clay G., and Gardy B. to the festival. They both enjoyed it. Last Thursday, I took Brian O’K and Gaylor F. What a blast it was! We bundled up, cranked up the holiday tunes, sang at the top of our lungs, and beheld the greatest spectacle of lights since Chevy Chase lit up his house in “National Lampoon’s”! We saw a spinning dreidel, Santa playing basketball with his elves, and the newest exhibit- some really colorful dinosaurs. The clients were so excited, and I think we all felt like kids again. I left NCC that night feeling very fulfilled, and grateful to bring a little holiday cheer. I’m still smiling thinking about it!

Out of the Chair and Into the Air

Earlier this month a group of clients from the Cottage and Webster Court ventured down to Tennessee for a trip filled with shopping, museums and sightseeing. Taken in by the beauty of the Smokey Mountains, clients Ed, Joe and Mark expressed interest in seeing things from a bird’s eye view. In the spirit of Living the Science of Caring, our staff inquired if it were possible to get the clients, two of whom were in wheelchairs, aboard for a helicopter tour ride.

It was an act of true teamwork as staff members Devin and Melissa lifted Ed and Joe, one by one, into the helicopter. Inside, RST Tonya pulled them through and helped maneuver them into the seats. Without a chest strap in the helicopter to keep Ed upright, Tonya held him up with her arms through the entire ride so he could see out the window. The dedication it took to get everyone into the helicopter was remarkable, but it couldn’t compare to the eight minutes and sixteen seconds they spent taking in the amazing view of the city and the Smokey Mountains.

When they landed and went to get their souvenir pictures the scenic tours staff confessed they had never seen a group so devoted to what they do. Tonya proudly responded, “That’s because we Live the Science of Caring.”

They certainly do!

The Divas

When you hear of a diva, it’s easy to envision a sassy fashionista who takes a liking to shopping, makeovers and the latest Hollywood gossip. This is true of some of the world’s most famous divas, and is also the case for Special Tree’s all women, client peer group. Appropriately named…. You guessed it, The Divas.

But this month The Divas took a break from their usual pampering and fashion filled agenda. They rolled up their sleeves and put their manicured hands to work creating holiday gifts at Special Tree’s Wabash Ceramics Studio. When the afternoon of paint and clay was over the girls felt better than after a day at the spa. After all, they had spent time in good company, were up to date on the latest, and had some holiday gifts for their friends and family in hand.

So what’s next for The Divas, who meet monthly? Probably back to catching up over tea and fashion. At least until they want to raise eyebrows again. After all, isn’t being a diva about making everyone wonder what you’ll do next?