"I have my self respect and freedom back"

"About 15 years ago, I started getting sick. I began to have home care provided by the state of Washington. Then in about 2003, I started receiving home care through KWA Home Care. In 2009, I reached a point of self sufficiency and independence. This is my story.

At the beginning of that 15 years, I was diagnosed with M.S. I was also very over weight. I had lung and  diabetic heart problems. I was in a wheel chair for many years. I was taking three shots a day and over 44 pills.

A little over three years ago, I had to have a knee replacement. Dr, Snow in Olympia said he could not do any kind of surgery until I lost some weight and strengthened up my legs. So, my daughter and my caregiver, Tina Harris, and I started walking around the complex I live in. I watched what I ate. I walked at least three times a day. My caregiver walked with me and took care of me. As I started walking more and more, I began to feel better, loose weight, my legs got stronger and my diabetic problem went away. I was taken off my shots and many pills. I had been on oxygen because of my lungs and I was also taken off that. In the two years, I lost 116 lbs. I had the knee surgery replacement done about two years ago. Then, I began to reach the point of self sufficiency. Since then, I do all my own work, take care of myself, work out three days a week. I haven't seen a doctor for atleast a year.

KWA Home Care was a huge part of my last 15 years. I was taken good care of by my caregiver. KWA trains the caregivers very well. They teach them how to help someone reach their independence and full potential. I know if I had not been cared for by KWA Home Care, I wouldn't have gotten this far. I'm a new person for it. I'm healthy as I could ever be. I've gone on a cruise. I'm able to go places on my own now. I'm able to drive again. I totally have my self respect and freedom back." -Linda Sorenson