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I'm Isabel. I'll be 73 this year. Florence owns the house where I've lived for the past 10 years. The first couple of years that I lived here was rough, until the medications leveled out my mental and memory issues. The last 8 years have become easier to cope with my daily life. My daughter lives close to me, which is a comfort. Life here is safe: meals are served on time, there are smoke alarms and fire alarms. The front door stays locked. If I have a doctor's appointment, or need some items of personal grooming, my daughter picks me up and I sign myself out and then sign myself back in when I return to the house. If any emergency arises, a caregiver is immediately there to help with the emergency. I now have a routine: I wake up, make my bed and go to breakfast. The caregiver prepares various kinds of food to feed us. I tidy up and organize my room. I take my medications in the morning. Afterwards, I return to my room and open my computer. I receive more meds in the evening around 8 pm. I have accounts on yahoo, google, Facebook, and read eBooks available from the library's site on my browser. I've signed up with the local library's outreach program. Every month they deliver books and DVDs and pick up the ones they left with me the previous month. That makes it easier than having to wait for my daughter to take me there, since she works full-time and is studying for a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity. I like to joke that I keep my books in the library. Besides reading, I've got several coloring books and a case of colored pencils. When I'm not in the mood for reading, writing, or watching anything, I pull my books and pencils out and color away. I have one computer dedicated to playing solitaire, another dedicated to the new book that I'm writing, and a third to "surf the net." I also write letters and special occasion cards about every two months to friends and family. I have also been writing. I write poetry and short stories. I have access to free online poetry classes, as well as a site where one can put one's stories. I've been working on an old book that I'd written when I was still living in Phoenix, Arizona. I've begun a new book. Although I'd only meant it to be a small piece of the genre termed "fan fiction," it has blossomed into over 100,000 words. In the end, despite not being able to venture out on my own, I'm comparatively satisfied. I have reading, writing, and coloring, which fill my days. I can converse with everyone with a sensible awareness. The computers always let me know what the date and time are, as well as weather conditions.

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Brian was born on May 10, 1954 at the Renton Hospital. He passed away on September 17, 2020 at his home an adult family home named Freedom Home. Brian was the baby of the family having three brothers named Ed, Ron and Greg and two sisters named Cindy and Pam. Of course he got picked on by his siblings but was also treated with special attention because he was the baby. Brian was active in sports especially baseball growing up. He was fast on his feet because he had to out run his brothers from time to time. He did well in school and graduated with a high school diploma. When class picture time came in grade school he always liked to wear a tie and sport jacket. He was always a bit accident prone. When he was young he managed to get in the way of a spear Ed and Ron were tossing back and forth in some kind of game probably playing chicken. We thought he was going to lose an eye but he recovered intact. Brian managed to total the family Volkswagon bug yet came out without a scratch. While doing some rock climbing in eastern Washington he fell and broke his back. We borrowed a station wagon and drove over to bring him back home. All of us kids were lucky to have a mother who was a nurse so we received excellent home care for all of our ailments and broken bones. Mom helped Brian recover and get back on his feet. He definitely had a guardian angel looking over his shoulder. Brian's life changed dramatically when he sustained a brain injury from a motorcycle accident at age 21. He was hurt badly and in a coma for several months. His body constantly contorted leaving him a quadraplegic with little control over his limbs. The doctors wanted to pull the plug on him saying it was hopeless but mom fought like a mama bear and brought him home. She took classes to learn rehab care and eventually Brian could sit up in a wheelchair and start to get around. About a year later Brian moved into his own apartment at a facility named Center Park in Seattle. This apartment was designed for people with various disabilities. Mom spent countless hours modifying his apartment layout so he could live independently. This required extreme patience for both mom and Brian because his injury severely impacted his short term memory so learning and retaining information called forrepetition and many creative forms of reminders. He enjoyed his independence and loved loud music such as Peter Frampton, the Stones and the Doors. He also was girl crazy which led to some interesting comments and interactions with women. Brian's long term memory remained intact which made it difficult and sad for him. He remembered his job, his dog, friends and fiancé which amplified his loss. After about 20 years his functioning declined and he developed some bad sores on his legs that led to a long hospital stay. He couldn't go back to his apartment and needed 24/7 support and supervision. Then we met Florence Prasad. She had worked in some long term care facilities and did not like the quality of care provided to residents. So she decided to start her own adult family care home called Freedom Home. She was a god send because l could not find a suitable home for Brian. He was her first resident and was a project at first because of the nursing care he needed to heal his wounds. She kept him from going to a nursing home. Florence took Brian in while still waiting for her license to be issued. Over time they formed a close bond and Brian had a special place in her heart. He called her his girl friend even though Brian became friends with her husband. Florence was pure sunshine and enjoyed bantering with Brian. For 22 years she gave him great happiness. She did anything and everything he needed including doctor visits, ongoing care for various ailments, getting him into a day program, arguing with the staff there when she felt they were neglecting his care, fighting with DSHS and Medicare to get new wheel chairs and just being a positive presence in his daily life. He used to say that he would move back to Center Park when it got to be 85 degrees. So she would say time to go Brian then he would say not until 95 degrees outside. When Brian got grumpy she could kid him into a better space. Not too long ago she made a commitment to me to care for Brian no matter what and keep him in his home until he passed away. She kept her promise. His passing is very hard on her. I will be forever thankful for her kind, compassionate and loving way for all her residents. But Brian was special and really lucky to know her. Florence was his real guardian angel.