Client Spotlight: James and His Sister Tanya Taylor

Bridging Distance with Food and Love

“I couldn’t have gotten better without my sister and St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, I love y’all.”

We recently had the chance to connect with Tanya Taylor, whose brother James faced serious health issues after a stroke. Living in Texas, Tanya was worried about her brother, whom she affectionately calls “Lil James.” After the stroke, James’s weight dropped to just 95 pounds on his 5’7” frame. Concerned and seeking help, Tanya reached out to St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.

Tanya and James are Los Angeles natives who grew up in Compton, where many of their loving extended family members still live. Although Tanya now resides in Texas, she continues to care for her younger brother from afar. Before the stroke, Tanya described James as someone “you could never keep still.” However, after suffering a stroke, James became weak and bedridden.

Tanya remembered that her in-laws had received meals from Meals on Wheels years ago and had greatly benefited from the service. She contacted our client liaison, Yuri, who quickly arranged a new client assessment for James with SVMOW social workers Vanessa and Fiona. Yuri, Vanessa, and the rest of the SVMOW team supported her through this difficult time, providing comfort with regular updates that reassured her he was not only being cared for, but also making progress. “Yuri and Vanessa are my heroes,” Tanya said, relieved to know that James would receive the support he needed despite the distance.

What Tanya and James didn’t expect was how extensive and thorough his care would be. Not only did SVMOW’s Registered Dietitian, Itchaquiera, create a dietary plan to help James regain strength and weight, Vanessa and her team also assessed James’s mobility needs and tapped into our Home Sweet Home program to install grab bars, a rail along the front steps and other safety features in his home.

“Yuri and Vanessa are my heroes,” Tanya expressed, relieved that James would receive the support he needed despite the distance between them.

During our conversation, Tanya expressed her deep gratitude for the support James received, noting his impressive improvement from a fragile 95 pounds to a healthier 166 pounds! “I could finally find some peace of mind,” she said, knowing her brother was being fed and well cared for.

According to James, who is a father of three and a grandfather to 7, “I was on my deathbed and couldn’t have gotten better without my sister and St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, I love y’all. The meals are delicious, and receiving the fresh fruit and other food items has changed everything. You helped me get back on my feet!”

Tanya’s unwavering love and commitment to her brother are clear. She highlighted the vital role SVMOW played in enhancing James’s quality of life. Tanya noted that Yuri and Vanessa encouraged her to call anytime for updates on James’s progress, which she does regularly, helping to ease her worries from afar.

Itchaquiera explained how SVMOW tailors its services to meet each client’s unique medical needs. “The loss of independence after a stroke can make food preparation and eating challenging,” she noted. “Malnutrition is an unfortunately common consequence and can hinder recovery. I am so glad we could be there for James during his time of need by delivering balanced, therapeutic meals to help rebuild his strength and cognitive resilience.”

The story of James and his big sister Tanya highlights the vital role of our donors, whose support allows us to provide food, love, and the ability to go #BeyondtheMeal for our homebound clients. Even though Tanya is over 1,000 miles away from James, St. Vincent Meals on Wheels acts as a bridge, making sure her little brother gets the care and support he needs to thrive. With your help, we stay committed to families like Tanya’s: to see, nurture, and listen to clients like James, who might otherwise feel lost, reminding them they are valued and never alone.