Ken Pater Success Story

Success Story

Honda Foundation’s support has directly improved Ken Pater’s life. A cancer survivor, Ken just finished chemo therapy a few months ago, which initially left him blind and unable to walk. While his vision has returned, he has not recovered the full use of his legs. We met Ken through networking with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The Society recognized that Goodwill of East Texas would have the resources available, with the support of the Honda Foundation, to assist him. Ken lives alone and was completely confined to his house, where he was either in bed or in his wheel chair because the height differential of his sofa and chairs and his wheel chair was such that he could not move from one to the other.

He was stuck.

Indeed, Ken was completely dependent on others to go to the grocery store for him, to take him the half-block distance to church, and to his local doctor appointments. During the intake survey process, he was asked if a power scooter would make his life better. Ken was interested—a chance to increase his independence! With Honda Foundation’s support, Goodwill of East Texas provided a Rascal power scooter and it changed his life. Ken said practicing to operate the power scooter in the driveway of the complex where he lives until he got comfortable before he ventured out too far was key to his progress. Now, with the store being two blocks away, he goes grocery shopping independently. He can also take himself to church and to his doctor appointments.