PAGE 2, WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978, WITBY FREE PRESS IfAFree Press Iy iBuffANWINTER Staff Writer On Jan. 11, the Free Press _printed a featire story about Walter "Pat" Pattirnore, a 72-year-old crippled war veteran who was trying to Cipple war veteran has a new lease on lije make a life for hinmelf in bis own apartnient. instead of ini a nursing home. ' I At that titnre,ý Mr. Patti- more Was a ;,)n( ,,frustrât- ed, unhappy -ian who wanted some fritiship and support, and rei.,hed out to tis newspa1, r to try and get sorne assis, lcL*. 'I Today, fi, months later, it is bard .o believe the, changes in Mr. Pattirnore. He bas gained some weight, his crippled banda have greatly irnproved, but most important of aIl, bis outlook on life bas completely changed. On May il, he moved from the West Lynde higb rise apartments to the new senior citizens' apartrnent building on Coiborne Street wbere a special apartrnent for wheel chair patients awaited him. "I would like to tbanik very mucb the people of Whitby who have helped me," says Mr. Pattirnore, wbo is full of praise for the assistance be bas received from the Royal Canadian Legion, Whitby Red Cross, Victorian Order of Nurses, Handi-Transit and many other individuals and organizations. On bis moving day, six members of the, Legion transported Mr. Pattimore's furniture for him, and two legion members, L. McCoy and J1. McLean supplied their own trucks. Mr. Pattimore, since January, h-qs joined the Legion, the Wbitby Seniors Activity Centre, and the Osbawa Handi-Transit. 'He bas made a number of visits to the Legion and the Seniors Activity Centre, and bas enjoyed the cornpany in both places. On Mondays and Thurs- days, Handi-Transit takes hime to the Day Care Hospi- tai in Oshawa for'.tberapy wber he baàs joined in with other patients who are also receiving help. Thiese visita bave belped Mr. Pattirnore sýee bis own situation in a new light. 144You tbink I'm sick, " he says. "I'rn a lot, better off than rnany of tbern are. My beart grieves for them." Many of the people who are receiving therapy there bave suffered frorn strokes and are worse off than bim, Mr. Pattirnore discovered. Mr. Pattirnore says be is happy to report he is in good healtb, both pbysically and rnentally. 1He no longer needs to sleep on a bospital bed,' and will be returning bis hold bed to the. Departrnent of Veteran's Af- fairs wbich loaned it to hirn wben be nmoved to the West Lynde bigb rises last Novem- ber. He can use bis bands mucb better than when I last saw .hirn in January, and be can even' stand up, wbich he could not do four rnontbs ago. However, bis knees are stili botbering him, as a resuit of injuries receiving during parachute trnining during' the Second World War. A Red Cross home-maker cornes in a couple of trnes a week,. and Mr. Pattimore says sbe's a good cook. A VON nurse also visits birn two or tbree tirnes a week to take care of bis medical needs. On Friday he sees his doctor at the Ajax-Pickering Hospital. 16'i'rm enjoying rnyself im- mnensely," says Mr. Patti- more. There's a grand buncb of people in this district. I want to tbank everybody for being 50 generous."1 Mar. Pattirnore formrnlry used to sit alone in bis apartment, but now liegoes out to res-taurants, with transportation supplied by Comrn«unity Care volunteers. "I went to dance at Beaverton witb the Handi- Transit people and sang ry self hoarse," he said. Mr. Pattimore bas made. considerable progress in get- tmng involved ln the commun- ity and meeting new friends, but fie stlll finds living 'n a srnall apartrnent mkes hlm feel lonely. H1e would llke to get a job and is not as concerned about the rnoney'as be la about- doing sornetbing wîth bis tirne. He still feels as be did in january that lie would make a good floor walker ini a department store. "No one would suspect tban an old rnan in a wbeel- chair is looking out> for shop- lifters," be says. Anyone interested in sup- plying Mr. Pattimore with a job can contact bim at 315 Coîborne Street West, Apt. 102, or by calling him at 668-6872. A'sure sign that Mr. Patti- more bas a new lease on life now, is that he was singing as I entered and left bis apartment. Last January be did not feel like singing. AIKI KEMPO KARATEDO SUMMER SPECIAL, $4900 PLUS REGISTRATION 1ST m SEPTEMBER 1 ST Clas efr mau, wemn, m d Dit,, à ys a wsek. S"ecisi smmer rots fer clhire, 55WBIWOtKS.LUI (East of Wilson Rd.) OSIWA 571-1112 I Walter Pattimore, a war veteran who bas been confined to a wbeel chair for six years, smiles as lie drinks a cup of tea in bis new senior citizen's apartment on Coiborne Street. Last January he was lonely and unhappy, but now be bas joined tbe Legion and Senior Citizens Activity Centre and bas a new lease on life. In this follow-up to a Free Press article' of Jan. il Mr. Pattimore offers bis thanks to ail the Wbitby people wbo belped bim get a new start after spending rnany years in nursing homes. Metric - 98% of the world knows it - so it must be easy,. WAL3PChromeENlTRE HONE 666UN1v WO~33 HOPKINS utAVNUWHE BROCK 668-3618 SPECIAL - moms & TOTS SHOW FRIDAY 1:30 MU. ALL MOUS FREE ALL TOTS $10 Matms~It& Sm.. mai« st e Sé v JUNE SPECIAL DISCOUNT THRU MAV & JUNE WHITBY RUG & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING CO. l'lie prof emo iial peo 1) le M steani cleaning carpetinq. VV e specialUe tir chesterfield cleailirig. Free pick up on loose ruqs, chestertields, chairs. A local company, servinq VVhilby & area, for the pasi 2',ý. ypars. 666-1222