Thanksgiving for the peace and comfort of one’s home

Published 2:50 pm Wednesday, November 27, 2013

For the Kent Reporter

After years of living in nursing homes and institutions, Kent’s Sherry Lookabill knows how significant independent living has been for her.

On a rainy mid-November Saturday afternoon, Lookabill hosted an open house to celebrate 30 years of self-determined living. Among the 20 joining the festivities were support providers, friends and family, including her mother.

For Lookabill, 61, having a home of her own was anything but simple. Born with cerebral palsy, a disease that severely limits muscular control, Lookabill has always needed around-the-clock assistance. She cannot feed or bath herself. She cannot even take a drink of water without assistance.

But Lookabill found more comfortable, independent living with sheer determination.

“God gave me my brain and my mouth, so I used them,” she said. “I have become adamant that people ask me what I want.”

Today, Lookabill self-directs her home, her life and her support team.

Lookabill was born in Olympia into a family of six. She required constant supervision.

“I wanted to feed myself, but due to my poor coordination, my mother wouldn’t even let me hold a fork until I was 5 years old,” Lookabill said. “She was fearful that I would ‘poke my eye out’.”

In her late teens, Sherry was moved into a nursing home and later an institution. While at the nursing home she met the man she married, and later divorced.

Lookabill decided she’d had enough and started to ask questions. She found out that through funding from the state, if she could self-manage the operations of their own home and hire care providers, she and her husband could live independently, on their own. To get the assistance she needed, at one point, she threatened suicide.

In 1983, at age 31, Sherry and her husband struck out on their own. Both became totally dependent on a litany of interesting characters who were hired to be care providers. At that time, the state paid $25 for a 24-hour day.

“It was challenging but I had figured out that if I filled out forms from the state and submitted them, our caregivers would be paid,” Lookabill said. “With some assistance, I saw that that was done and we were on our own.”

The success of this undertaking was up and down and went reasonably well until Lookabill decided her marriage was not working. This required her to return to a nursing home temporarily before Sherry connected with Total Living Concept (TLC), a Kent nonprofit. In 1999, TLC started providing direct support professionals who make it possible for Lookabill to live in her own apartment near Central Avenue in Kent.

TLC provides living support systems for 29 people living with disabilities.

“With disabilities like mine, you need an advocate to advocate for you. I found that in TLC,” Lookabill said. “Without the direct support professionals provided by TLC, I would be lying in bed in a nursing home. I wouldn’t be living the life I have.”

Lookabill gets out of her apartment regularly for shopping trips and likes to go to performance theater. Musicals are her favorite.

Lookabill likes public speaking and enjoys travel.

In mid-December, Lookabill visits Chicago to attend a national convention held on behalf of people living with disabilities. She has spoken before the Washington State Legislature advocating for the birthright to independence for herself and others like her.

Through the help of a business coach, Lookabill is starting a public speaking enterprise called Let’s Talk.

As she says, “I have a small body, but a big voice.”

During the holiday season, Lookabill has been a bell ringer for the Salvation Army. She is seeking warm clothing donations for two nonprofits, Treehouse and Jubilee. Treehouse supports foster children and Jubilee provides safe and supportive housing for women.

“I have been told I have a big heart,” Lookabill said. “I thank my mother for that. She always told me, ‘The world has more than just us in it.’ Our family had to rely on aid to dependent children; we knew what it’s like to be in need.”

Lookabill has come far with the right help.

“I want to thank my direct support providers, Heather Warren, Carissa Kachman, Janell Costanzo, and Renee Jacklin and the administrative staff at Total Living Concept. They share their love with me. Without an organization like this, I would not have had 30 years of independence. This is a milestone,” Lookabill said. “They see me at my best and my worse and always support me.”

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The Total Living Concept office is at 1132 W. James Street, Kent. To learn more, call 253-854-7663 or visit www.totallivingconcept.org.