Karen’s Life in Progress

Karen Perkins lives in Bolivar, shares a home with roommates, and checks recipes on her phone every day. She likes to ride with the windows down, the music low, and the road stretching out ahead. But it didn’t always look this way.

Not long ago, at just 42, Karen was living in a nursing home. Her health needs were complex, and her days felt small. She wanted more space and more say. To create motion. When she connected with Easterseals Midwest and its Community Living program, the shift came over an extended period of time. A new home, a different routine, and support that met her where she was.

“I was in her house from the very beginning,” says Teressa Harris, Direct Support Professional. “She became more active. She did more. She was very happy to be out.”

Karen loves to go, and for no reason in particular. Branson, Springfield… anywhere, really. Sometimes the destination hardly matters. “We just did lots of fun things,” she says with a shrug and a smile.

Inside the house, daily life turned into practice - learning to plan meals, cook, and look up recipes (which is something she now does every single day). The kitchen became a place of practice: a spoon against a bowl, the click of the stove, a greater sense of concentration. Small skills, but real pride.

Next was a milestone that changed everything.

When Karen first moved in, she used oxygen throughout the day. At social events, the tubing came along, heavy with reminder and a constant companion. Teressa remembers dances where Karen would sit back in tears, wanting to move a little more freely. Over time, with healthier routines and consistent support, Karen no longer needed it.

“It was a really big deal,” Teressa says.

Now, when music plays, Karen joins in with no cords and no hesitation. Only movement. Her health is a lot stronger and her world has become wider and fuller.

“Everybody should go to Easterseals,” Karen says plainly. “Because they really care about you. I love Easterseals.”

Care, in her life, is practical. There’s a front door that she can walk through, a recipe she chooses for herself, and drives taken just because the day allows it. Karen measures her life by motion. These days, she’s moving a lot.