PPS will not take my Independence away. The Lord is not done with this man of faith.
I`m not your normal 71-year-old man. After my father committed suicide in my senior year of high school, I started hitting golf balls. I was always told I could not play sports. But every time I was told no. My tenacity could not hold me back. I started with 30 golf balls daily and a 25 handicap. I worked it down to an 8 handicap. Hitting 200 to 300 balls every day for 21 years and working 50 hours a week. Boy, did I shock a lot of men and won a lot of money. My PPS started at 41, and I had to stop golf. I had been training dogs off and on for many years. Loved competing, so I had to do something. I helped write the book on resiliency and perseverance.
I had one choice. Never Quit & Never Give Up!
In 1958, Scotty was a 4-year-old boy who went to bed only to wake up paralyzed in both legs and arms for 120 days and 6 months in Tampa General Hospital. Diagnosed with Polio. I left the hospital with extensive muscle atrophy on my right side, and my spine was an S shape. My mother had to teach me how to walk again. She gave me 8% use of my right hand, which helped me play golf.
What many do not know 10 to 40 years after Polio comes Post Polio Syndrome (PPS}. I knew nothing about PPS. After 8 years, I realized that my body had started the PPS journey.
Scotty loved working in the yard, growing 90 rose bushes, and joining the rose society. I worked at GTE Phone Company and supplied many with a dozen roses free for mothers, wives, and friends. I stopped growing roses and started growing orchids. I joined the orchid society and had over 100 orchids. I had to stop Orchids in 2025 PPS and was losing strength.
Many have said Scotty is a perfectionist and is always willing to help others. His view if he can’t do it right the first time, don’t do it at all.
Many friends have said, if you need help, ask Scotty. He loves helping people, and especially kids.
PPS takes one apart piece by piece. In my 50`s I was walking 2 miles a day. But that soon went to a mile. I can remember hitting 200 golf balls, playing 9 holes, and coming home to mow the yard. PPS has continued to change my life every year after 50. I retired from Verizon with 26.5 years in 2003.
My wife and I took a vacation. In 2004, after a lot of prayer, the Lord said go visit kids in hospitals. We got our first Golden Retriever in 2004. A Journey of a Lifetime started. From November 2004 to 2019, Scotty served as the Pet Therapy Chairman at St. Joseph Hospital on MLK Blvd.
Once the news was out, I logged over 6000 volunteer hours visiting kids throughout Tampa Bay.
My Therapy work took the place of my golfing days. I loved visiting kids with my Golden Retrievers. Teaching my Goldens many tricks to entertain. I love people, kids, and dogs. The state attorney called in 2010 to ask if I could help. We volunteered on 25 sexual abuse cases. The American Teach-In 9 years, Read Program in elementary schools 3 years, USF Domestic violence, USF Shimberg Medical Library, Buddy Breaks, a Special Need Program, including Autism Director 3 years. I became an Instructor holding 7-hour classes and an evaluator for testing Therapy teams.
Scotty`s view if kids need help to have a better day, count us in..
At the same time, my Pastor Harv asked me to come on staff from 2004 to 2017. It was an honor. I did not accept pay.
All my life, I`ve been the one to help others. I never expected to be in this position. However, PPS will progress. But that does not mean for me to stop helping others. My body is getting worse, and independence is becoming much harder. I need a reliable Mobility van. Hopefully, I can raise enough money to purchase a Mobility van to continue helping others. My vehicle will be a great trade-in value.
Sadly, people with Disabilities pay 2 to 3 times the cost for a vehicle.
How can you help? By donating in my honor. You may also want to become a volunteer.
