Passageway Members' Stories

Passageway Members' Stories

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There is no better way to describe how effective Passageway's clubhouse program can be than the words of our members. Select from the growing set of stories by Passageway members below, and have them tell you, in their own words, what a difference Passageway has made in their lives. And check back often for new additions!

NEW: For our first annual "Gateway to Independence" fundraising breakfast, we prepared brief profiles of eight Passageway Center members. Click on the pictures below to read these powerful stories.

Laura Balzer's Story

Pam Belew's Story

Julie Bird's Story

Ginger Novelle's Story

Marla Ozinga's Story

John Rutt's Story

Chris Simpson's Story

Gano Whetstone's Story

Former Passageway Member John McCabe

Johnny Mac sits in his customary spot near the plants in the dining room.

John "Johnny Mac" McCabe was an institution at Passageway. With his background as a printer, it is no surprise that he played the lead role in making sure the thousands of pages of copying we need for each monthly newsletter got completed. We miss John's smile, his work ethic and his passion for both music and Passageway. We hope you enjoy his articles.

A New Year at RAINBOW

by John McCabe

This article originally appeared

in the January, 2006

Passageway (formerly RAINBOW Center) Newsletter

I joined RAINBOW in December 1994. I was quiet, removed and kind of still am. I wasn’t used to people. I was accepted into the clubhouse right away. I was starting to feel comfortable around people with disabilities similar to mine. I finally found a place to spend my days that is Alcohol and Drug free. No more being influenced by so-called friends. I was looking a long time to find friends who did not drink and do drugs. I thought if I wanted friends, I would have to follow them down that lonely dead-end street of Drug and Alcohol abuse.

In 1995 I was asked to quit drinking by people who I respected and who cared about me. I was ready and I agreed to stop. The Alcohol was killing me. I decided enough is enough!

I have been sober 10 years.

And I thank a Higher Power for giving me the strength to stop. I’m not saying RAINBOW had anything to do with my sobriety. Then again, maybe RAINBOW did. Well, what I do know is RAINBOW did play a part in keeping me sober. Being a part of the Work Ordered Day, members and staff work as a team, doing several varied jobs that must be done every day. I get a lot more benefits from RAINBOW that I would not have if I stayed home alone.

What’s that old saying, “You only get from RAINBOW what you put into RAINBOW?”

It’s a new year for RAINBOW and a new year for RAINBOW members. Please come down and meet some new friends and maybe some old friends too.

What the RAINBOW Center

Means To Me
by John McCabe

This article was published in a later Passageway (formerly RAINBOW) monthly newsletter. It was included as the text of the program at John's memorial service after his death in May, 2006

The center gets me out of the apartment. I find things to do that I enjoy doing. I enjoy a meal that I can't afford to make at home. I enjoy socializing with friends. And when I get home, I feel like I accomplished something and I'm more comfortable at home. My doctor is very pleased with me. I can't get enough of the clubhouse.

My sister in Denver gets the newsletter and she wants to read an article by me. I have trouble getting over to friend's homes to visit, but I can see them at the RAINBOW.

I think I speak for a lot of members, "a few chores are not work", but it’s a privilege to be a member and a responsibility to be part of the work-ordered day.

John was born November 15, 1950 in Dyersville, Iowa. He graduated from high school in California. He was a printer. He enjoyed going to RAINBOW and seeing his friends. In his spare time he would make CDs for his friends from the RAINBOW Center. He enjoyed working at Easter Seals and helping out doing what he could to help them. He enjoyed music, watching the TV, attending to his aquarium and numerous plants. He looked forward to his cab rides to RAINBOW Center and spending Saturdays with his daughter, Kelsie.

He passed away at home on May 20, 2006. He will be cremated according to his wishes. He is survived by his daughter, Kelsie of Des Moines; sisters, Donna Thomas of California, Jane McCabe of Denver and Ann of Granger; a brother, Tom of Colorado and his many friends at RAINBOW and Easter Seals. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph and his mother, Josephine, a brother, William (Bill), and a sister, Mary Kay Berger.

My Story
by Gano Whetstone

Gano Whetstone is 62 years old. She was born in Adair, IA and grew up in the neighboring town of Casey, IA. She graduated from Casey high school and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a double major in English and Physical Education from Northwest Missouri State University in 1967. She then began a career in teaching in Dunlop, IA. She was first diagnosed with a mental illness in 1969 after a traumatic event. After her diagnosis and receiving services, Gano went on to earn a Masters Degree in Education, also from Northwest Missouri State, in 1974.

Gano joined Passageway twelve years ago. She had just moved to Des Moines from Adel. The West Central Mental Health Center in Adel had told Gano how the clubhouse helped people with a mental illness, and recommended she join the Passageway when she got to Des Moines.

Gano says, “When I joined Passageway, I was down and out and very depressed. I isolated and had a bad opinion of myself. I felt people did not want to have anything to do with me because of my mental illness. I was lonely. I even had poor relationships with my family members. Stress was a great problem, and I smoked two packs of cigarettes a day. I was in debt due to credit cards. I had been hospitalized for my mental illness many times.

“Passageway helped me change my life. Not long after I joined the center, I got a Transitional Employment placement at Hy-Vee. I was able to successfully complete all 9 months of this placement, which was a great achievement for me. I made friends with other members of Passageway and felt I was well accepted by the staff. My loneliness began to subside. The staff worked with me on budgeting. Passageway worked well with my psychiatrist and other mental health agencies. Linda Oleson-King helped me get case management workers and helped me keep mental health services. The staff helped me with the benefits I receive from the government and informed me of changes in these benefits.

“After belonging to Passageway for twelve years, my life has changed for the better. I have many friends now, including friends in the community not involved with Passageway. This has greatly reduced my depression. My family relationships have improved since I am better. I have been able to do part-time work at a public school. I had been a teacher prior to being diagnosed with a mental illness, and am glad to be able to work in education again. I was able to pay off my credit cards and I no longer have financial problems. I reduced my stress level and was able to quit smoking. I have not smoked for seven years. The last time I was hospitalized for my mental illness was ten years ago. Passageway helped give me this chance and continues to counsel and advise me in my job.”

Gano is a recognized leader at Passageway. She was one of the authors who contributed her story about dealing with Mental Illness to our theatrical production, VOICES. She recently attended three-week clubhouse training at Fountain House in New York City, and has been working hard on improving our education efforts since she returned. She has also complete our computer class. She has done a lot of advocacy for the cause of mental illness, including lots of work in support of the “Mental Health Parity” bill, and was invited to the bill signing by Gov. Vilsack. Gano has especially worked within the school system to advocate for the role of school counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists in dealing with issues like campus security, child abuse, sex and drug education, and special education programs for children with special needs. Gano has recently been selected to serve on the state’s Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Developmental Disabilities and Brain Injury Commission. And in 2009, Gano received the "Citizen of the Year" award from IDAction (Iowans with Disabilities in Action).

“Passageway has helped me reach many of my goals. No one wants to be without help when they are ill, and Passageway is well aware of that fact. Passageway is always there for their members. It has always been a comfort to me to know that, at Passageway, help is available.”

Gano Whetstone and Hillary Clinton

Gano is politically active and a great advocate for mental illness. She poses with Sen. H. Clinton.