Ray Vermillion has been a paraplegic for 25 years, but he doesn’t
let his disability keep him from things he wants to do. A country boy at heart, Ray lives in a
farmhouse not far from the Gasconade River outside of Vienna. His loyal companion, Lady, is a black lab who
showed up on the property and took up residence with him. Although Ray uses a stripped down wheelchair
for indoor mobility and traveling, the rough terrain outside requires a more
rugged motorized set of wheels. “We love
it out here in the country,” says Ray.
“Living in town is like being in jail.”
One of the things Ray likes to do is visit his 93-year old
grandmother, Beulah, in the nursing home.
Once a month Ray and Lady drive to Meramec Nursing Center in Sullivan
where they visit grandma and other residents.
Fellow dog lovers welcome Lady and are glad to have the opportunity to
reconnect with “man’s best friend.” Even
Smokey, the resident cat, has come to accept Lady on the premises. “Residents look forward to Lady’s visits,”
states the Center’s Assistant Administrator Donna Barns. “She’s very gentle and her presence comforts
our residents.”
Ray Vermillion and his black lab, Lady, visit his 93-year
old grandmother at Meramec Nursing Center in Sullivan. During Ray’s monthly visit, Lady makes her
regular rounds visiting other residents as well.
Some of Ray’s other pastimes are taxidermy, woodworking,
fishing, and building things. In between
chores such as snowblading his road, cutting his uncle’s grass, and upkeep on
the house, Ray spends a lot of time in his workshop. Among other projects, he built his own
wheelchair accessible entry ramp, installed railing around the expansive front
porch, and built a 14-foot utility trailer to haul his motorized wheelchair and
lawn maintenance equipment. Ray says
he’ll try just about anything. “If you
can dream it, I can build it,” says Ray.
Although Ray is fiercely independent, he says he does need
help with some things. Through Heartland Independent Living Center, Ray has a Consumer Directed Services (CDS) attendant come to his
home to help with his daily living chores.
Laundry, housecleaning and grocery shopping are tops on his list. Heartland has also provided Ray with a shower
seat, and he in turn has donated some adaptive equipment back to
Heartland. Maggie Brooks, Ray’s CDS
Specialist at Heartland, says Ray is a remarkable man. “Every time I go out there he’s made
improvements on the house or built something new,” says Maggie. “I have the utmost respect for him.”
Heartland Independent Living
Center (HILC) is a nonprofit, non-residential, community based organization
that serves individuals with disabilities in east central Missouri. HILC holds the Better Business Bureau’s
Charity Seal. Among the free services
HILC offers to assist people to live independently in their own home are
advocacy, information & referral, independent living skills training, ramps
and home modifications, nursing home transition, adaptive equipment, and dental
services. For more information on
available services, contact HILC toll-free at 866-322-3224.