When Pat Cates was a young girl, her friends were dreaming of going to college and professional jobs. Yet, Pat said her dream was to marry and have six or more children.

"Throughout the years, when my husband and I went out to eat people would ask ‘are those eight children yours’," said Pat. "Yes, my dream came true."

Pat and Gene Cates were both in their 70’s, and had decided if either became ill, they would not go through aggressive or curative treatments or life support. "We wanted to live our lives naturally to the end without hospitals, without being hooked up to machines and tubes," Pat explained.

In the spring of 2003, the Cates were off to Arizona. Pat said it was a good trip, but something seemed amiss. "Gene was different, just little things. He was moving slower and his stomach was bothering him," she said.

After returning home to Lake Jackson, they made a doctor’s appointment. Shortly after, Gene was hospitalized for tests. A week later, the doctor told Gene he had pancreatic cancer, and that he had probably had it for 12 to 13 years, without symptoms.

"Gene asked how much time he had, and the reply was four to six months," said Pat. "Gene said he wanted to go home. He did not want chemotherapy, and he did not want to stay in a hospital. He wanted to go home, sleep in his own bed and spend time with our sons, daughters and grandchildren."

Gene asked for hospice care. The Cates’ daughter, Amy Terry, knew a Hospice Care Team nurse in Lake Jackson and so she called her.

"The Hospice Care Team nurse explained everything to us. She told us what to expect, and she helped all of us so much. She was an angel, an answer to our prayers," said Pat.

Hospice Care Team, a United Way partner agency, provided nurses to check on Gene three or four times a week. Certified Nursing Assistants visited to care for his personal needs. In addition, volunteers were available for comfort and support, as well as running errands such as picking up groceries and medications.

Social workers also visited to help with emotional concerns and to answer questions. "It is helpful for the family to have someone to talk to when a loved one has been terminally diagnosed, " said Debra Perryman, LMSW, and a Hospice Care Team social worker.

"Late one night, I had a question about Gene’s condition, so I called Hospice Care Team. I talked to the nurse for a while and felt better," recalled Pat. "She told me a number of times she would come over, but I told her that I was fine and she had answered my questions. It was comforting to know that all I had to do was say ‘yes’ and a nurse would come out in the middle of the night."

Pat explained that in the last days of Gene’s life, all eight children were with him, sleeping on pallets and staying close. "Hospice Care Team staff members were also with us, taking care of Gene, supporting all the family and doing so much. They have what they do, down right. We could not have made it without them," exclaimed Pat.

Gene died at home, where he wanted to be, with his family and where he was most comfortable.

Before Gene’s diagnosis, the family had planned a trip to watch the leaves change. Pat and the children wanted to cancel the trip, but Gene insisted that they go even if he could not. After he died, the family went on the trip.

Amy said, "It was hard to go without my father. But he had planned it, so we went. While we were on the trip, it was as if he was still taking care of us, still there directing our paths."

"It has been a year now since Gene’s death, and I still miss him so much, yet I am so thankful for all the wonderful years we had together," said Pat. "It was a good life. We have been so blessed with our family, friends and by all the angels of Hospice Care Team."

OATH: Open Arms and Thankful Hearts

With the high prices for prescription medicine, many people find it difficult to afford their needed medication. The OATH, Open Arms Thankful Hearts, is a pharmaceutical assistance program that works to aid those who cannot afford their medication, and in late 2003, United Way Brazoria County supported OATH through a Community Building Grant.

Located in the Lake Jackson Church of Christ Building, this non-profit, faith-based organization relies on word of mouth to promote their work. They coordinate the intensive paperwork required to access the Patient Assistance Programs most pharmaceutical companies offer, but do not advertise. An applicant must meet certain financial qualifications and not be on Medicaid in order to be eligible for the program.

"Over 44 million Americans currently have no access to health care benefits or consistent preventative care. This segment of the population delays basic healthcare until their needs become serious, and therefore more expensive," said Joe Gardzina, United Way of Brazoria County’s Director of Community Investment. "The United Way of Brazoria County is continually looking for solutions to these issues in a proactive and productive manner. United Way's grant funding of The OATH program is a perfect example of addressing these basic needs before they become emergencies."

In its first six months in Brazoria County, OATH has help provide more than $183,000 worth of medication for 180 applicants. The program is a process, assisting with long-term medications, not immediate medicines. Because OATH charges only a small fee of $15 as an application fee, they depend greatly on donations and grants, such as the Community Building Grant from United Way for expenses.

"United Way has been so good to us. I do not know how we could have gotten started without them," said Roma Swick, executive director.

A Safe Place

Child abuse is a serious problem that affects the children involved, as well as their families. According to the 2000 Census, Brazoria County’s child abuse rate is twenty-five percent higher than the state average.

Imagine the trauma of going through physical or mental abuse as a child and having to tell your story over and over to many adults such as law enforcement officers, social workers and possibly representatives of the District Attorney’s office. Reliving the crime can be overwhelming to a child. That is what was happening prior to the opening of the new Children’s Center of Brazoria County, a United Way Community Building Grant recipient.

The Children’s Center is equipped with a monitoring system in each interview room allowing all necessary personnel to view the interview at the same time from another room. These interviews are recorded for possible future use as evidence.

"This facility was needed. Brazoria County children were driven to Galveston or Harris County to be interviewed by a forensic interviewer and have sexual assault exams performed when necessary, adding to the child’s already traumatic day," stated Bonnie Martin, Executive Director of The Children’s Center of Brazoria County.

" The results of our Community Assessment confirmed that children's support
and care from traumatic events was minimal at best," said Joe Gardzina, Associate Executive Director for United Way of Brazoria County. "Our volunteer leadership quickly recognized that support of the Children's Center was critical. Our agency was one of the first to fund this project. United Way of Brazoria County is a proud partner in the efforts of the Children’s Center in providing quality care for our county's most vulnerable residents," stated Gardzina.

Seeing the need for an Assessment Center in Brazoria County, United Way volunteers granted the Children’s Center a $10,000 grant to help with the initial costs of opening the doors. "The seed money from United Way showed a commitment to the need and made others want to support us as well. We were able to get more donations to pay for the monitoring equipment and renovations on our building to make it accessible to all. Soon we will offer the sexual abuse exams out of our office as well," explained Martin.

The Children’s Center of Brazoria County is one of many recipients of the grants provided by United Way that help to strengthen families, promote self-sufficiency, improve health and help people including the disabled, youth and senior citizens.

The ARC of the Gulf Coast Success Story

Todd Gordon is a 21-year-old who enjoys basketball, art and listening to music. He attends Alvin Community College and has a part-time job; only every day is a challenge for this young man with fragile X syndrome. The ARC of the Gulf Coast, a United Way agency that provides information and promotes public awareness about mental retardation, along with Todd’s family and teachers, help make everyday easier for him.

According to fragilex.org, the most common form of inherited mental retardation is fragile X syndrome, occurring 1 in 3600 males. Todd is among this statistic, and has difficulties with speech, is easily distracted, and has intellectual disabilities. With such symptoms, it is no surprise that Todd would have problems in school.

Todd’s mother, Trisha, took her son to the best fragile X syndrome experts in the country, who suggested that he needed to be emerged in a regular classroom. Todd grew so large by the time he was in the third grade, and although everyone on his Individual Education Process team wanted to integrate him for all his classes they were unsure how to at the time. The team later came up with the idea to use a mentor. Although the mentor was a year older than Todd, he was the same size and was also in Todd’s science and social studies classes.

"Todd would act very inappropriately when he was in the segregated classroom," said Virginia Eernisse, an advocate for Todd when he was 3 years old and first came to the ARC. "As soon as his mentor came in for him, you could see his posture and body and hand movements change to match those of the ‘regular’ kids."

Jennifer Richert, Todd’s case manager, has worked extensively with Todd for the past year, assisting him at both Alvin High School and Alvin Community College. "He’s such a neat person," she said. "I have learned so much from working with him."

Currently, Todd is taking an art class at Alvin Community College two days a week through a grant from Texas Council for Developmental Disability that helps fund his supplies. He takes great pride in painting and has participated in two art shows. He’s even sold one of his paintings. "Painting is something he can do on his own," said Richert. "And he takes such satisfaction in his work."

In addition to art, Todd plays basketball and lifts weights regularly at the college. Richert says being at the college has made the most difference for Todd. He is surrounded by well-behaved students and peers, and he mimics that good behavior in the classroom and in the community. Socially, Todd has become less shy, more capable to carry on conversations and has improved his manners since being at Alvin Community College.

Todd’s mother also has fragile X, but is not affected in the same way as her son, yet she understands the difficulties he faces daily. She has been a member of the ARC’s board of directors for six years, and she uses resources from it, the community, and the schools to help Todd communicate his dreams.

"I would not be the person who I am today without him," said Trisha. "And I wouldn’t be as wise as I am, but I feel like I am very wise after having him. He’s shown me what’s important in life and what’s not."

Joshua Rouse 
A Boys and Girls Club Success Story

While most teenagers spend the majority of their time thinking about cars, clothes and dating, 18-year-old Joshua Rouse has spent the better part of his teenage life pursuing his goal to become Governor of Texas.

At 13, Rouse became interested in law after watching Judge Judy and decided to join the Boys and Girls Club, a United Way agency dedicated to enabling young people to realize their full potential as productive citizens in a safe, educational atmosphere. Within the Boys and Girls Club is the Teen Court Program, whose premise is that youthful offenders will more likely accept responsibility for their actions when judged and sentenced by their peers.

Rouse’s involvement with Teen Court helped him to gain his current position as Clerk of the Justice of the Peace Court in Alvin, "This occupation has made me extremely agile in the legal system and heightened my skills and knowledge of the law and criminal and civil court procedure," he said.

Among many awards, Rouse was the first recipient of the Youth of the Year award in Brazoria County and a recipient of the Presidential Freedom Scholarship. He also is a First Degree Knight at his local Knights of Columbus. In addition, he was an election official in the primaries the first year he was able to vote, and this only scratches the surface of his impressive credentials and references.

Diana Davis, Teen Court Coordinator, said, "Joshua knows what he wants to do and will not stop until he accomplishes it. He sets goals and sticks to them even when it takes longer to achieve them than anticipated. He will succeed because he is focused on what he wants in life." "I contribute my success to the people that helped me," Rouse said.

Rouse takes advantage of every opportunity to better improve his legal skills. He has served half a dozen positions in the Teen Court Program within four years, is the chairman of Brazoria County Republican Party, Precinct 48, and also a judicial intern for the city of Alvin Municipal Court.

"Being employed formally in the legal system has greatly increased my abilities as an employee and has magnified my qualifications as an asset to the legal field," Rouse said.

A 2004 Brazoswood High School graduate, Rouse plans to spend 11 months in Germany as a Brazosport Rotary ambassador, and then return to the United States and finish college at the University of Houston.

Herbert Grice
A Brazos Place Success Story

Between bingo, Skipbo, dominoes, lunch, desserts, and singing around the piano there isn’t much idle time at the eight Actions Center located throughout Brazoria County. And on a typical weekday afternoon, a visitor is likely to find dozens of senior citizens involved in at least one of these activities.

Actions, a United Way Community Care Team serves approximately 500 to 600 people a day. In Alvin, the agency serves meals at the Senior Activity Center. In Pearland, seniors meet in the Knapp Building. Actions Centers are warm, relaxing and fun places for seniors to meet. To borrow a line from a famous theme song, everybody knows each other’s name.

In addition to operating the centers, Actions also provides home-delivered meals, transportation, homemaker/respite care, and social support services. In Alvin and Pearland, church based groups administer home delivered meals.

Two enthusiastic, long-time visitors to Actions are Bertha Jammer and Harry Burton.

Mrs. Jammer, a spunky "80 something year old" isn’t sure how long she’s been coming to Actions for lunch and fun with her friends, but she knows it’s been a long time. Although she has difficulty getting around, she hasn’t let it slow her down.

One of the Actions vans picks up Mrs. Jammer at her home and takes her to the center. "It gets me out of the house, and I enjoy visiting with everyone," she says.

Bertha also enjoys her family. She stayed home for many years to raise her family of three girls and a boy. Her husband Willie, Sr. is retired and he enjoys working around the house. Throughout the years, their family has grown and now includes "lots of grandchildren and great-grandchildren".

Mr. Burton, 84, helps with the Actions’ telephone reassurance program. He began coming to the center in the 1980’s after he retired as a custodian. When he talks about his work around children it is obvious he enjoyed it, and he admits to often spoiling the students by slipping them candy. "Those kids sure hated to see me leave," he laughs.

Each day at the center, Mr. Burton telephones other homebound senior citizens to give them a friendly hello and inquire how they are doing. Fridays are reserved for catching up on his paperwork. "It’s not something I grumble about doing. I like doing it because everyone is so excited to get a call," he says.

Like Mrs. Jammer and Mr. Burton, thousands of individuals have benefited from the services provided by the 24 local health and human service agencies supported through the annual United Way of Brazoria County campaign that is currently underway. During 1998, United Way’s entire family of local charities provided over 100,000 instances of service to people in need.

Susan Baker and Her Circle of Friends