When Meals on Wheels volunteer Gene arrived at Geraldine and Everett’s home and knocked on the front door, no one came to greet him.
That was unusual.
Geraldine and Everett had been receiving Meals on Wheels for about four years, and the lunch-delivery routine was familiar to them.
But that day was different; Geraldine had stayed home alone while her husband, Everett, went to a doctor’s appointment. Their daughter, Cathy, who lives nearby, had had driven him.
Geraldine says she typically doesn't like to be alone, so she usually accompanies Everett to his appointments. That particular day, though, she was feeling unusually tired and asked her family to go without her, but to please hurry home.
Cathy, mindful that her mom was feeling anxious, phoned Geraldine twice during the trip from Des Moines to Ankeny and back. All was well during those calls, but sometime in the 15 minutes between the last call and Gene's visit, something unforeseen happened.
Quick thinking saves the day
When Gene arrived at his usual time, just before the typical lunch hour, he walked up the front steps and tried the door. No response; that was unusual, as Everett usually was there to answer, with Geraldine waving from the living room.
Instead of leaving the meal on the porch and moving on, Gene decided to investigate. He walked around the house and looked through the living-room window, and he saw Geraldine lying on the floor. Alarmed but thinking quickly, he called 911.
Emergency responders arrived within minutes. Doctors later determined Geraldine likely had suffered a stroke. She was admitted to intensive care, and because of Gene's quick thinking, she recovered after a few days in the hospital.
“If it hadn’t been for Gene,” Everett, 97, says, "I'd be here all alone."
A daughter's relief
For Cathy, the timing still feels remarkable.
“It all lined up exactly the way it needed to,” she says. “Gene didn’t just drop off a meal; he cared enough to check. That made all the difference. We are so thankful for him.”
Geraldine, 93, posing here with her husband many years ago, has become more frail in recent years, her daughter says. She has experienced falls and numbness in her hands, and her doctor advised her to stay out of the kitchen for her own safety.
Meals on Wheels, recommended by a medical provider, became a way for Geraldine and Everett to continue eating well without added risk.
But for Cathy, the program means something more.
“Before Meals on Wheels, I was working full-time and trying to bring them meals myself,” she says. “I'm not complaining, because that's my responsibility as their daughter.
"But Meals on Wheels was such a blessing. It not only made my life easier from a practical perspective, but it was a huge blessing to have that extra set of eyes on them while I was at work."
Everett and Geraldine notice that care. They are endlessly grateful to Gene, who continues to visit them most days to deliver their meals and make sure all is well. Once a week or so, they are visited by volunteers Tom and Linda, who also check in to see how the couple is feeling.
“They are nice people, too,” Everett says. "I answer the door and if Tom doesn't see Geraldine, he says, 'Now, how is Gerry?'"
The myriad safety benefits aside of Meals on Wheels aside, Geraldine and Everett also thoroughly enjoy their hot, nutritious lunches! Geraldine says she's partial to the vegetables and fruits, while Everett is a fan of the meat and poultry dishes. The menu variety matters, but the consistency is nice as well, the couple agrees.
Cathy says she hopes no other adult child has to experience the fear she felt the day her mom suffered a stroke, but she wishes all caregivers could experience "the blessing that is Meals on Wheels." She encourages others not to hesitate to reach out to Meals on Wheels if they need help.
“Do it,” she says. "It can be a lifesaver for your parents, but it can make your own life more manageable as well."
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