SPECIAL FOCUS
Diagnosed with a brain tumor, a police officer re-learns how to live life
with many physical impairments, thanks in part to WSSRA
BY MARYELLEN BILEK, MGW
Life was going smoothly for Peter
Zimmerman in the late 1980s. He was
living in Forest Park and was in his early
twenties working as a policeman in a
nearby village. Things turned chaotic
when, in 1988, he was diagnosed with a
brain tumor. Surgery to remove the
malignant growth occurred in 1989,
followed by an arduous journey of
radiation treatments and other medical
care. Now more than 10 years later, Peter
is free of cancer but living life with many
physical impairments as a result of the
cancer treatment.
The residual effects of the radiation have
left Peter with near-paralysis on his left
side, memory impairment, visual loss,
orthopedic limitations and little stamina.
His hearing and speech have been
impaired as well.
During his rehabilitation, Peter's parents
researched area community services that
could benefit their son. Mrs. Zimmerman
learned that her park district, the Park
District of Forest Park, was a member of
the West Suburban Special Recreation
Association (WSSRA). So she called
WSSRA in 1996 to find out about its
programs and services. The WSSRA
outreach specialist visited Peter and his
parents in their home. Rapport was soon
developed and Peter was invited to join
WSSRA in some weekly excursion-oriented trips.
The outreach specialist assured Peter
that despite his physical impairment, he
would be able to visit restaurants, museums, theaters and community events with
WSSRA. For long-distance walks he could
use a WSSRA wheel chair and staff would
always be available to "drive" the wheel chair as well as an accessible lift van. While
Peter was appreciative of the home visit, he
was not willing to make the commitment
to register. The outreach specialist stayed
in touch with Peter each time a brochure
of new WSSRA opportunities was
available.
Soon after their initial meeting in
Peter's home, he began to participate in a
disability support group sponsored by
Loyola Medical Center. In September of
1997, WSSRA's outreach specialist was the
featured guest speaker and Peter found out
that some of his friends in the support
group were participating in WSSRA
programs. They talked him into trying
WSSRA's Take Time for Fun Club.
Peter began participation in the WSSRA
programs that fall and continues today,
now in his ninth season of involvement
with the special recreation association.
"I go out two evenings per week with
rec," says Zimmerman. "A driver comes
and picks me up and we go out and have a
ball."
The Take Time for Fun Club is an every
other week excursion-oriented program.
Each session offers three hours of exploring
community, cultural and leisure events
such as outdoor concerts, trips to the
botanical gardens, visits to the area zoos
and dining out. Comprised of adults who
have mobility impairments from stroke,
arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and other
conditions, the group fosters friendships
and offers a supportive environment in
which to share common experiences of
rehabilitation struggles and coping with
the grief and loss of having a disability.
During Take Time for Fun, WSSRA
recreation specialists often share with the
group "how-to's" of adapting a previously
enjoyed recreation pursuit to one's current
ability level.
"WSSRA programs are a wonderful
outlet for Peter," says Mrs. Zimmerman.
"He can't watch TV all day and yet he
cannot work either." (Peter's vocational
options are minimal and have not been
eagerly pursued due to an ever-changing
physical state.)
"WSSRA helps him to focus on things
other than himself," she adds.
Peter has begun to feel comfortable
enough to visit some of the community
sites with his family now that he has been
introduced to them through WSSRA.
WSSRA will continue to provide the
assistance Peter needs to get out and enjoy
life. The Zimmerman family is so grateful
that the Park District of Forest Park is a
member of the West Suburban Special
Recreation Association.
MARYELLEN BILEK, MGW
July/August 1999 / 27Meet Peter Zimmerman
is an outreach specialist for the West Suburban Special Recreation
Association.