Grace came to COTS after spending almost a year in hospitals and rehab centers recovering from a stroke and a heart attack. While she was in care, still learning how to speak, walk, comb her hair, and handle a pencil, her roommate died in their shared apartment.
Without being aware of what was going on in the outside world, Grace lost her lease and all her belongings, even her identification and Social Security cards.
One bright spot in the time she spent in the hospital under strict COVID protocols was her son, Alex, outside her window on her birthday, holding up a poster board that let her know he loved her. “That’s my kid,” she says. “He’s the best. I swore I was going to be able to get out of there and hug my kids.”
Finally, she was partially recovered. But she was also homeless for the first time. “You’re vulnerable when you’re recovering from a stroke,” Grace says. “I came to COTS with a lot of fear.”
But she rarely showed it.
She dived into life at COTS, working with Jeremy, her physical therapist, outside on a wheelchair ramp, and volunteering in the kitchen as soon as she was able.
“[Chef]Janin was one of the first people I talked to at COTS,” Grace says. “I told her I wanted to do something, and she said she’d find me a job I could do. And she really did.”
Grace became a fixture at our front door, handing out meals and laughs to every community member who needed one, the other—or both. It was a great fit for Grace, who’d spent many years managing restaurants and inns in and around Guerneville. If you’re from those parts, you might remember her happy face at the wheel of Santa’s mail truck, heading to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s annual holiday dos.
“I do click with people,” Grace says, “and I also know how to find my people. I taught my kids to steer clear of drama, and that’s what I did at COTS.”
Grace found a supportive group of friends who encouraged and motivated each other. She also worked every day to recover from her stroke and to take care of any and all the red tape entanglements that could hold her back. She used COTS’ help to obtain her identification, increase her Social Security income, and finally file for a divorce from an ex whom she hadn’t seen in decades.
Luckily, she was eligible for a new affordable housing complex in Healdsburg, a town she might have driven through a few times but to which she had no ties. “I said, ‘Sure,’” Grace says. “Of course! I’ll make friends!” The application process was grueling and there were many construction delays, but Grace stuck with it—even after suffering another stroke—this time, mild.
Now, she’s getting to know her new town, enjoying the free concerts in the Plaza and the view of redwood trees out her bedroom window. Best of all? Inviting her two children to her apartment for home-cooked meals.
Thank you, donors, for giving us the support that brought Grace into our lives and into a home of her own. She gave us an example of grace, determination, and community that inspires our work. We are grateful to know her and grateful for your support.