Hello, my name is Mary Vietmeier; a graduate of D.A.H.S. in Lisbon, Ohio. Several of us from the class of '72 are raising funds for our classmate, Clyde Wherry. Clyde’s remembered as a peaceful, gentle spirit and who has tried to live a quiet, responsible, normal life these past 50 years since we all graduated together. But life has brought him to the point of being frustrated and depressed, with cataracts, facing further amputation of his leg, and feeling hopeless. Here is his story and why he needs our help.

Clyde married our classmate, Marianne. After five years they adopted a 3-month-old baby girl (Nicole). Several years later Marianne was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

This is that time as described by Nicole, “I watched my mother’s disease progress over those years. Dad was by her side taking care of mom as her primary caregiver until her death in 1996. And even though he kept working his full-time job we lost our house and my college fund paying off medical bills and funeral costs. He was left to raise a 12-year-old, unruly, grieving daughter who lost the only mother I knew as a single parent. I did not make it easy for him at all, yet I have always admired all the weight he tried to carry. He always worried about caring for others and put himself on the back burner. But now he needs help; more than I can give him alone. I know he does not want to be a burden to me but he’s my dad, I don’t want to lose him too; I love him.” Nicole.

It was not until 2006 he remarried only to live through another medical nightmare as his second wife was diagnosed and died six years later from Huntington’s disease. He remains a widow.

Clyde moved to Pennsylvania to be near his daughter. He continually worked manual labor until an auto accident hospitalized him with a broken neck and injuries. His daily work became his physical therapy and his church. I spoke to him at several of these points in his life and it was in large part his Christian faith that gave him the strength to keep going. After recovery, he moved to the Canton area as he was worried, he would be a burden on Nicole.

He worked part-time as physically able until he was T-boned at an intersection by an uninsured driver . . . and for a second time breaking his neck and sustaining bodily injuries; more physical therapy. He had very little left financially after spending a lifetime paying medical bills so continued to work as he could in a grocery store to make ends meet.

Recently, he retired with only his social security to live on. Clyde’s diabetes brought on vision and circulatory problems. Last month part of his right foot had to be surgically removed. He is now in rehab and waiting for a skin graft for the surgical site. Without the graft and proper follow-up, he will most likely need to have his entire leg amputated.

When he is discharged, he cannot return to his apartment due to the stairs. Medicaid has been applied for and eventually will partially cover assisted living which will leave him with $50 a month with no other income. He was facing eviction from his apartment at the end of January. Speaking with the landlord I learned the plan was to have all his belongings thrown into a dumpster with no regard to family photos, etc. That has been delayed a month through an anonymous donation to give the family time to pack up memorabilia, but still, he will be losing most of his belongings as he has nowhere to go and no means to store things. Clyde is feeling hopeless, very hopeless. He needs help beyond any one person. We know we are asking for a miracle.

First prayers are needed that his foot heals without additional surgeries and that the cataracts impeding his vision are removed successfully. Second, Clyde needs financial help to get settled after discharge from the rehab center in Akron. We are asking for help to get him up and able to walk, have his cataracts removed, and get him back to living as full a life as possible. And to live in peace in a quiet, comfortable, clean place with adequate food, social activities, and health care maintaining as much independence as possible, and finding joy in life with family and friends. The hope is to find an assisted living residence close to his daughter Nicole and grandchildren. He has lost so much and suffered so much in his life; please help us to give him hope for a future and not give up.

Please, even if you can help just a little; together we can do this for him, be part of making this miracle happen. I believe we can; I believe in miracles. Be one of the Earth angels making this miracle of a full recovery his reality.

Thank you for reading this, your prayers, and financial help as you can.

Sincerely,

Mary Vietmeier and our Class of '72 team.