Here at AUCP, we like to showcase our participants because they are the reason why we’re able to do what we do. We are so excited to introduce you to Evelyn Goehres. Evelyn lives in Johnstown, Pa and has been a participant of AUCP since 2008.

Originally from Michigan, Evelyn has moved around the United States throughout her life. From living in New Mexico to Ohio, and now in Pennsylvania. Traveling is something Evelyn has always loved to do and if she could go anywhere, she’d love to visit England where her family originates from. She is a mother of 4 and has multiple grandchildren. She loves to read, specifically historical and mystery. She also enjoys being outdoors camping, swimming, boating, and riding her new bike (pictured).

One of her favorite memories was living in the countryside on a farm in Michigan as a child. The thought of being surrounded by trees, hills, and a pond fills her with joy. She even had her own pony, Ginger (aka Spunk)!

While talking with Evelyn, one can instantly sense her joy. She says she was born happy. Although she has struggled with her mental health, she does not let it stop her. It can be a daily challenge, but she continues to work on bettering herself and her life. Evelyn’s AUCP Service Coordinator, Corri, sums it up by saying “Evelyn is a joy to assist and remains positive despite any obstacles that are thrown her way!”

When he was just 19-years-old and a college sophomore, Michael Kiel just so happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. On a mid-April night in 1993, Michael was shot in the side of the neck outside of a convenience store, leaving him completely paralyzed from the neck down. This occurrence may have changed the entire trajectory of his life, but it did not change who he is at his core.

Michael has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Rehab Counseling. Today, he works as a Rehab Specialist for the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation at the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown, PA. His job is to work with other individuals with disabilities that are attending vocational school and he assists the students in identifying life obstacles. In his free time, Mike enjoys playing chess with his nephews and being with his friends and family. He has come to realize that who he is with is always more important than what they are doing. 

Over the last 20-some years, Michael has had a lot of time to think about his perspective on life, find a special sense of humor, and share his story with those around him. As a way to cope with his injury, Mike began to write about his life events before, during, and after his spinal-cord injury. In August of this year, he released his first book, “Challenge the Moment”, which is available for purchase on Amazon and in-store at Classic Elements in downtown Johnstown. This book serves as a memoir full of stories of his life and is said to be “brutally honest and painfully descriptive,” and at the same time “relentlessly positive, funny, and charming.” Michael says it offers a broader perspective on life and encourages the readers to enjoy the journey along the way.

As an agency that works with people with all forms of disabilities, whether they are disabled since birth or due to some sort of tragedy, we have to agree with Mike that perspective is such an important attribute to how one goes throughout their life. When we asked Mike what piece of advice he would give to our readers, he responded in the following quote:

“There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.” 

– Kurt Hahn

Thanks for being willing to share your story, Michael – there’s so much to be learned from the stories you’ve allowed the world to experience through your words.

 

Follow Mike on Social Media:

Facebook | Twitter  | Instagram

Kenneth “Kenny” Dyer, a 53 year-old, father of three, from the South Hills of Pittsburgh lived his life without expecting to one day be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), “an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.” However, you could ask ten different people living with MS about how it is affecting their lives and you would get ten different stories.

For Kenny, he went 5 to 6 years without any diagnosis just assuming that the symptoms he was having were as a result of stress and getting older. However, in 2016 he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease. Within two years he was bound to a wheelchair, had to stop working, and relocated to Westmoreland, PA to live with his sister because he was unable to live independently.

Prior to his diagnosis, Kenny’s middle son, who was around 11 at the time, was diagnosed with cancer. Kenny remembers telling his son everyday “you are gonna get up, you are gonna fight, and you are going to win.” Kenny did not realize that one day he was going to have to practice what he preached. He decided he was not going to “curl up in a ball” and let the disease take control, he was going to continue making the best of his life. Even though he is inconvenienced by a wheelchair, he realizes that it could be much worse and that some people would give their lives to be in the position that he’s in.

One of the best compliments that he has ever received was from a friend saying, “the biggest difference between you (Kenny) and other people living with MS is that you are not giving up.” Each day, Kenny gets up and goes about his day, he gets to the gym three days a week, and does not allow himself to make excuses.

Currently, Kenny’s MS is stabilized with the help of medication and infusions.  His goal is to one day not need a wheelchair and begin using a walker or cane. He wants people to remember him as someone who doesn’t quit and is able to make people smile. When asked what advice he would give to the past Kenny, it would be to go to the doctor, so many things he faces today could have been prevented if he would have just followed the warning signs. Advice that he would offer to anyone recently diagnosed with MS is that “It’s not a death sentence. Yes, it’s a life sentence, but it’s not the end.”

 

Source: FOX 43, Jossie Carbonare / June 1, 2018
Taking big steps and beating the odds.

18-year old Samuel Mckoy-Johnson suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, making his bones easy to break and confining him to a wheelchair. But this June — he did something remarkable.

Johnson was able to take steps across the stage to receive his high school diploma at Spring Grove Area High School in York County.

“I’ve been through a lot of stuff, a lot of operations, a lot of surgeries, but you know, through it all I made it, I’m here, and I get to walk across the stage,” said Samuel McKoy-Johnson.
From walking hallways — to standing minutes at a time to build his endurance— Johnson has spent the last year going to physical therapy— twice a week — to prepare for the big day. “I knew that’s what I wanted to do and I wasn’t going to let anything stop me,” added McKoy-Johnson. His therapist, Stacy Fisher says she’s seen a lot of grit and determination to get him where he is today.
“Seeing him right after school, seeing him on the good days after school, on the bad days after school and that he still pulls it out, does what he needs to do with therapy, even though he may not have had the best day,” said Fisher.

“It’s amazing to see the transformation from where we started to right after he had surgery to where we are now it’s just amazing and is a true testament to his good hard work,” added Fisher.
Giving the ultimate life-lesson to each person he crosses paths with: to keep fighting, pushing and never give up. “He always says mom, I am ok, I am not going to sit around and feel sorry for myself so I am very proud of him, very proud,” said Tasha McKoy, mother.
His next steps? He’s headed off to college at Harrisburg Area Community College “The same work ethic I put in to be able to walk across this stage is the same work ethic I’m going to put in throughout life,” added Johnson.

So to anyone facing a challenge:
“Where there is life there is hope, and if there is will, there is always a way,” said Johnson. “Don’t let anything stop you, always stay true to yourself, stay focused, have self confidence and you can accomplish anything,” he added.

Michelle Gelles of Johnstown, PA, is our featured participant this month and we are eager to share her story with you.

Growing up, Michelle had a normal life. She was surrounded by a loving and supporting family that never treated her any different and her Cerebral Palsy was not something that held her back from doing the things she wanted to do. Michelle was mainstreamed in school and it wasn’t until high school that she had started realizing how her disability made her different than others and the bullying began. To this day, Michelle is not bitter about the way she was treated, instead her perspective is that people just don’t know how to interact with people who are different, therefore, her and her friends tended to be the brunt of their mean comments and actions. Fortunately, Michelle had the support of her family and close friends to fall back on.

After high school, Michelle knew that she wanted to go to college. Even though Cerebral Palsy makes it difficult to do many day-to-day tasks, she decided to enroll in college at Edinboro University which meant living in a college dorm away from her family for the first time. This brought several trials and new experiences that made her realize she needed help that she was not able to get from the resources on campus. After some time, Michelle had decided that it would be best to move back home and attend a local college where she would be able to commute back and forth. Michelle graduated with her Bachelors in Secondary Education and a Minor in Communications holding a 4.0 GPA at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Just a few years later, Michelle would commute to Indiana University of Pennsylvania everyday with another student to complete her Masters in Adult Communication.

Michelle works as an Instructional Designer to write and created coursework for online classes. She has held part-time and full-time jobs, working with local and online companies. Michelle has been able to experience the socialization aspect of the full-time workplace, where she was able to go out to eat with them for lunch or go out after work for drinks and karaoke. Because Michelle’s CP causes her to type and write at a slower pace which requires her to work and think twice as hard and it takes a toll on her body, she now works part-time from home for the Southern New Hampshire University creating coursework for online Business classes.

Every dream that Michelle has held and opportunity she has been given, she has taken it. Due to her determination, desire to learn, and supportive family, Michelle has been able to live a full life and achieve her life goals. When Michelle needed an accessible vehicle and an adaptive bathtub, she saved the money to purchase them. Like all the things that Michelle has, she has worked hard for them and she’s asked for help when she needed it. Michelle has taken her blessings and difficulties for what they were and learned how to adapt to them.

In sharing Michelle’s story with you, our hope is to inspire you to take each opportunity you are given and use it to the best of your ability. No matter your situation, you are able to achieve your dreams, don’t let them slip by.

“It can be scary [to try new things], but it is even worse to deny your opportunities than to take them.”
– Michelle Gelles