HAVERHILL — Most of them live on limited incomes. Many have survived serious medical challenges, including cancer and bypass surgeries. Yet all of the guests interviewed by The Eagle-Tribune at the annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Citizens Center yesterday expressed reasons for being grateful. Many said they appreciated having their health.
"I should have been dead 10 years ago," said Antonio Teixeira, 82, of Churchill Court. His body was inundated with toxins so he was airlifted from Holy Family Hospital in Methuen to Massachusetts General Hospital.
"Mass General saved my life," the retired Raytheon group leader said. "I was on my back for eight weeks, wired up."
Teixeira said he was not sure what caused the serious medical problem that almost cost him his life, but he's happy to be alive and among other things, he enjoys bingo at the Citizens Center.
Speaking of the Citizens Center, many of the guests said they are thankful to have the facility, where older residents can go for inexpensive meals, bingo, cards, board games and socializing.
"I'm just thankful for being here," said Theresa Caruso, of Primrose Way, as she ate the turkey dinner prepared and served by the staff at The Oxford, a local nursing home. Caruso has survived a host of medical problems. In 1998, she fought breast cancer. Then, Sept. 11, 2003, she was struck by a drunken driver while putting something in the trunk of a car.
The drunken driver was convicted and served five years in prison, but Caruso still endures the effects of being hit. She suffered broken ribs and legs as well as a head injury. Today, she gets around with a motorized scooter rather than a wheelchair.
"I hate wheelchairs," she said.
Lorraine McClennon, 90, said she's grateful for having lived a long life and still being able to get around.
"I am thankful I have my health. I'm still up and walking," she said. McClennon was driving until last year. She agreed to stop driving but she's not about to give up living in her own home, she said. Her daughter, Carol Wilson, cooks for her, but she takes care of everything else, she said.
"I'm thankful we have this place. Vinny (city Human Services Director Vincent Ouellette, whose duties include running the Citizens Center) does a great job. We're very fortunate," said Marie Little, a resident of Judson House, which is adjacent to the Citizens Center.
Little retired after working with Community Action's fuel assistance program for 23 years. She said she is thankful for that program because without it, "a lot of people would be out in the cold."
Patricia Comeau, also a Judson House resident, said she is grateful for Haverhill's health care facilities, including Merrimack Valley Hospital and Pentucket Medical Associates. She also gave high marks to the YMCA, and the city's restaurants and stores, which "have what we need." More importantly however, Comeau, 67, is thankful for her sobriety — and her life.
A waitress and bartender for many years, Comeau ended up at Beth Israel Hospital.
"They told me my liver, kidneys and heart had stopped working," she said. "I decided that was the end of my drinking."
She has stayed alcohol free for 22 years, and is thankful to be alive.
Yesterday's dinner was sponsored by the Council on Aging. To qualify for a seat at one of the tables, one had to be at least 60 years old. Most of the guests said you couldn't beat the price of a dollar apiece.
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