KCSS Mobile Meals Delivery Driver Credited With Saving A Life
KOSCIUSKO — March 8 started out as an ordinary Thursday for Cindy Hunter and a Warsaw resident named Jim. On Thursdays, Hunter drives a Mobile Meal delivery route as a volunteer for Kosciusko Community Senior Services.
“I was driving the west 2 route and came to Jim’s place,” Hunter said. “He didn’t answer the door when I knocked. Usually he hollers for me to come on in.”
After knocking again and receiving no response, Hunter went inside.
“If a client doesn’t answer their door, we generally knock again and then go on in,” Hunter explained.
Once she entered the residence, she could hear Jim calling from back the hallway.
“I went back and found that he was stuck – he had his walker wedged and he was trapped,” said Hunter. “I had to really work to get the walker out of there.”
“I’m not sure how long he was stuck there. I got him settled, and he said he was okay, but I stayed because I didn’t feel comfortable leaving,” Hunter stated. “He said his left hand felt funny. He didn’t seem quite himself. I mean, he was talking and laughing, but something just didn’t seem right.”
When Jim mistook his electric shaver for a phone and began to speak into it, Hunter knew there was a problem.
She called Jim’s caregiver, who was en route to Fort Wayne. The caregiver called Jim’s sister, Carolyn, who lives nearby. Carolyn immediately came to Jim’s home.
“The whole situation caught me off guard because he had seen his heart doctor earlier that week and was given a clean bill of health,” Carolyn stated. She phoned Jim’s son, who came to the house and made the decision to call 911.
“The EMS guys did an excellent job of communicating with him,” said Carolyn. “Jim didn’t want to go in the ambulance. In his mind nothing was wrong except that his left hand wasn’t cooperating. They assessed him and said they needed to take him to KCH for an MRI.”
Jim was later transported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne for further testing, where it was discovered that he had two brain bleeds.
“It seemed like it all happened so quickly – your life can change in the twinkling of an eye,” said Carolyn. “None of us were expecting him to end up in ICU.”
Jim has received intensive rehabilitation therapy since being released from the hospital. He celebrated his 85th birthday in April, an event his family feels would not have taken place if not for Hunter.
“Cindy absolutely saved his life,” Carolyn asserted.
To add to the series of events, Jim had only recently begun receiving meal deliveries on Thursdays.
Prior to that time, Jim received deliveries three days a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Jim mentioned to KCSS Executive Director David Neff that he would be interested in receiving meals five days a week, which Neff immediately approved and made arrangements for.
“If you hadn’t arranged for him to receive meals those additional two days, no one would have been there that particular Thursday to help him,” Carolyn told Neff.
“It’s the generosity of the community that helps fund our program and gives me the discretion to make decisions like that,” Neff responded.
“I will tell you Jim’s words,” Carolyn shared. “He said Cindy is worth a million dollars to him.”
“He’s worth that to me, too,” Hunter replied tearfully.
Hunter moved to Warsaw from Wabash a year and a half ago and immediately signed up as a KCSS Mobile Meals volunteer. She had previously done mobile meal deliveries in Wabash County for nine years.
“You just start loving these people. Thursdays are the best day of my week,” Hunter expressed.
“There’s no way we can ever repay you,” Carolyn said to Hunter. “God had the timing set up perfectly. You were there at the right time and the right place. I realize some people are going to say it was a coincidence but it wasn’t – everyone in my family will disagree with that.”
“One of the things many people don’t realize about the Mobile Meals Program is the wellness check aspect,” said Neff. “In this circumstance it saved a life.”
Residents age 60 and over who are interested in obtaining information about meal delivery through KCSS may fill out an application here or call (574) 267-2012 and ask for Beverly.
“They are number one in our book,” Carolyn stated. “We, as a family, cannot thank these fine people enough.”