Client Spotlight: Cary W. – Refusing to Give Up Hope
In the Presence of a Fighter
“But those who hope will renew their strength; soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint.” — Isaiah 40:31
When you meet Cary W., you quickly realize you’re in the presence of a fighter — someone who has spent a lifetime turning obstacles into victories. Born with severe bone deformities, Cary spent much of his childhood in treatment. At age nine, an orthopedic specialist placed him in heavy leg braces and confined him to bed for a year. Instead of giving in to frustration, Cary found escape in books — his first glimpse of the determination that would carry him through life.
When he could finally stand and walk again, his family expected he’d attend a school for children with special needs. But administrators who met him saw something else — a bright, curious boy who belonged in a mainstream classroom. They urged his parents to enroll him at Gage Middle School, where he thrived academically.
It was there that Cary first realized he was “different.”
“I had no idea I was disabled until I got there,” he says. “At first that was hard. But I decided that if I worked hard enough, I could do anything.”
And he did. Cary graduated with honors and became the first in his family to attend UCLA. His father was so proud he ran door-to-door down their block showing the acceptance letter to every neighbor.
“— they go above and beyond.”
Cary went on to a successful career in IT, traveling the world and even helping program computers for Team USA at the Athens Olympics. Then another challenge appeared: glaucoma, a disease that eventually stole his sight.
Once again, Cary chose resilience over despair. “I decided I could still make a difference,” he says. Today he volunteers at the Braille Institute, helping others adjust to life without sight and showing them that purpose doesn’t disappear in darkness.
That same light shines in the way Cary talks about St. Vincent Meals on Wheels. “I can’t believe how much they care,” he says. “From the drivers who bring my meals with kindness to the social workers who make sure my home is safe — they go above and beyond.”
Through our Home Sweet Home program, social worker Fiona arranged grab bars, motion lights, and a sturdy walker so Cary can move confidently around his apartment — small changes that have made a big difference in his independence.
Like Cary, St. Vincent Meals on Wheels meets every challenge with courage and hope. Through fires, pandemics, and funding cuts, we’ve continued to serve our community with the same steadfast spirit — finding light in hardship and strength in love.
Cary’s story reminds us that perseverance is at the heart of who we are. His determination reflects our mission: to move forward together, one meal, one visit, and one act of care at a time.
