Doris Dennis stood in front of her stove frying homemade taquitos. After only a few minutes, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and collapsed onto a chair, out of breath.
Dennis, 62, suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and osteoarthritis, and has trouble walking. On most days, she’s confined to her studio apartment in Santa Clara with her Chihuahua rescue named Precious, watching scary movies and putting together 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles.
Dennis longed to go outside for daily walks with Precious. But due to her physical ailments, trips out of the house were nearly impossible. Her health conditions, which also include Stage 3 chronic kidney disease and chronic back pain, compounded her feelings of hopelessness, she said.
Dennis’ health problems also made it harder to complete basic tasks. She was unable to make most of her meals or clean her home because standing was challenging.
“I love it,” Dennis said. “It makes me feel alive, it makes me feel like I am somebody.”
Then the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund stepped in, helping Dennis purchase a seated electric scooter. Season of Sharing works throughout the year to prevent homelessness and hunger in the Bay Area’s nine counties. All donations directly help people in need.
The three-wheeled scooter has been a lifesaver, Dennis said.
“I love it,” Dennis said. “It makes me feel alive, it makes me feel like I am somebody.”
Since receiving the electric scooter in June, Dennis has added a dog bed in the space where her feet rest and now frequently takes Precious outside on trips. The dog, whom Dennis adopted two years ago, was initially afraid of the scooter, but now loves to sit on his pillow at her feet and go to the park, she said.
“I used to never go anywhere, but now I can go outside,” Dennis said. “I’m happy I can go outside.”
Originally from Morgan Hill, Dennis was sometimes homeless and struggled with a heroin addiction for nearly 30 years before being placed into a permanent supportive housing unit in Santa Clara.
Dennis’ brother also lives in the building — on a floor above her — so when she gets sad or lonely, he comes to visit her or she goes to see him.
Having the scooter frees Dennis to focus on another goal: to quit cigarettes. She’s been smoking since she was 14.
“We went out in hopes of getting her a scooter and things didn’t go as planned with her insurance, so that’s why we went to the Season of Sharing,” Chen said. “The scooter is helping her with her overall wellness. The scooter gave her some independence.”
On a recent day in October, Anthony Chen, her case manager and an occupational therapist, visited Dennis at her home. She limped toward him and showed him her right foot.
“It’s swollen,” she said as Chen examined her.
Chen said he requested a power scooter to improve her ability to take care of herself. Dennis had previously tried using a wheelchair, and then a cane and walker, but no longer had the strength to use them.
Her insurance rejected Chen’s request to buy the scooter.
“We went out in hopes of getting her a scooter and things didn’t go as planned with her insurance, so that’s why we went to the Season of Sharing,” Chen said. “The scooter is helping her with her overall wellness. The scooter gave her some independence.”
Reach Sarah Ravani: sravani@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @SarRavani
At Season of Sharing Fund, we believe that an unexpected financial crisis should never mean losing your home. Preventing homelessness isn’t just kind—it’s also the most effective way to keep our communities thriving. 100% of your donation keeps Bay Area residents housed, cared for and nourished.
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