When Patti Hudson first joined Immanuel Pathways of Southwest Iowa PACE®, her name tag carried a medical directive that reflected how she felt about her life: “Do not resuscitate.”
She had endured years of emotional hardship, isolation, and declining health. But just one month into the program, Patti walked into the office and asked for a new tag. This time, she wanted one that said, “I want CPR.”
“I’m not done,” she told them. And she meant it.
A lifelong resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Patti’s early life was rooted in faith and family. She trained as a hairstylist and worked until marriage and motherhood shifted her focus. Patti made the difficult decision to leave an abusive marriage and raise her three children on her own.
“I got a job. I took care of my kids. I mended them. I made them whole again. I made myself whole again,” she said. “I proved to myself I wasn’t stupid or useless. I was a strong, intelligent person who could do this.”
She began working and eventually joined the food and nutrition staff at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.
She worked there until she retired at the age of 65. In her retirement years, she continued to care for her son (who has special needs), spent time with her adult daughters, and tried to fill her days with her interests and hobbies. She and her son moved from their house into an apartment building near downtown Council Bluffs.
Still, she found herself searching for more connection and purpose. A social worker connected her with a senior day program in West Omaha. However, she said the program’s busing schedule and program itself didn’t meet her needs.
“We would just sit there for six hours a day and talk. It was boring. And the issues they were dealing with in West Omaha didn’t relate to my life in Council Bluffs,” she said. Patti asked her caseworker for something closer to home that would be more engaging. That’s when she was introduced to Immanuel Pathways of Southwest Iowa. Soon after she arrived, Patti said she felt the difference.
“To show you how much PACE® changed me when I came here, when they gave me my name tag, on the back it said, ‘Do Not Resuscitate.’ That’s where I was in life. If I go down, let me go. My tag now says, ‘I want CPR.’ I want to be resuscitated, because I’m not done. I haven’t given up after all, and PACE® gave that back to me.”
At Immanuel Pathways of Southwest Iowa, Patti began participating in activities, attending chapel services, and building friendships with other participants. Her neighbors noticed the change in her, and she even encouraged two of them to join the program.
One of the most impactful parts of her experience was physical therapy. Patti had lost feeling in her hands and feet, making it impossible for her to enjoy her favorite hobbies, such as knitting, crocheting, and diamond art.
“It felt like everything I loved had been taken away,” she said. However, through consistent therapy at Immanuel Pathways, she regained sensation and returned to the crafts that brought her joy.
“We worked, and we worked. One day, I woke up and my fingers were tingling,” she said. “A few days later, I could feel them again. I picked up my knitting and cried. It felt like a miracle, and PACE® gave me that.”
Today, Patti is an active and enthusiastic member of the Immanuel Pathways community. She helps others during activities, clears plates after meals, and warmly welcomes new participants.
“We’ve got so many friendly people who will open their hearts and arms to you,” she said. “And the activities, there’s bingo, crafts, and exercise. There’s something for everyone.”
“I hadn’t found a church that felt right,” she said. “But I found one here. Reverend Kim (McSheehy) is amazing. She’s brightened my life.”
Patti’s story is a testament to how Immanuel Pathways Southwest Iowa supports older adults in maintaining independence, improving health, and building community. For seniors in participating counties, the PACE® program offers more than care; it provides a renewed sense of purpose.
“I felt useless before,” Patti said. “Now I’m the one jumping up to help others. I have friends here. I have a life again.”