Diabetes, high blood pressure, weekly dialysis and a missing leg would slow anybody down. But for Betty Quick, these are all struggles that she plans on getting past.
Quick, 70, moved into Federation Housing in 2019. Since moving in, she has been a bright spot in the community.
Michele Naftulin, a property manager at Federation Housing, says that though Quick has been through a lot, she stays positive.
“She’s just been someone that out of all the residents that are here really had the power during COVID,” Naftulin said.
Federation Housing is an independent living community that serves low- to moderate-income seniors. For people like Quick, Federation Housing provides an affordable place to live and a place where they can maintain some autonomy while also receiving necessary assistance.
Naftulin said she’s inspired by the fact that Quick is able to stay at an independent living facility despite her barriers, and by the fact that everyone works together to make this happen.
“She’s just an inspiration for other people that are struggling with medical concerns and she does wonderful just adjusting to the everyday that comes up,” Naftulin said. “Every day is a challenge for her and she seems to get through it.”
Quick has been on dialysis for 8 years, and lost her leg due to complications of diabetes. However, with the help of an aide, Quick goes to the market, gets her nails done, attends all her appointments, and doesn’t complain.
“If you go around and complain, or have a sourpuss face, you’re going to be miserable in your life, and I don’t want to be miserable in my life. Even though I’m in my situation, I still want to enjoy life,” Quick said.
According to Naftulin, staff and other residents are inspired by Quick’s kindness and resilience. In one instance recently, Quick returned home from dialysis, a very taxing procedure, and noticed that there was a vaccination clinic up. She decided to wait and arrange the services she needed to get vaccinated right away.
“The residents that saw her, they know Betty, they all know what she’s going through and they saw that she just so badly wanted to have life still,” Naftulin said.
For the future, Quick says she’s working on mobility with her doctors.
“My goal is to be able to walk again, to be able to do some things for myself, but mostly to go back to church. I want to be able to put on my own clothes, go to the bathroom on my own, do all those things that I took for granted,” Quick said.
When asked what she would tell others who are struggling with medical concerns, Quick says attitude is everything.
“I would tell them to be positive that it’s not going to always be like this. Things are going to get better. If you think they are, they will. If you sit around moping and depressed it’s only going to make you sicker,” she said.
As for herself, Quick plans on sticking around and pushing through.
“I’m not ready to go yet,” she said. “I want to stay here as long as I can.” ••
