The recent issue of The Journey, the biannual newsletter of Joseph & Mary’s Home, features a cover article about Dennis, a Marine veteran who came to Joseph & Mary’s Home after facing both cancer and housing loss. The newsletter also features the 2024 Outcomes Report, the 2024 Donor Roll, an update on the Joseph’s Home Relocation Project construction, a donor spotlight on Jim and Bonnie Gwin, a staff spotlight on Resident Support Associate Jewel Greene, news updates, and more.

Below is the text from the cover story. Read the complete newsletter here.

Not Done Fighting

Marine Corps Veteran Models Courage and Honor as He Battles Cancer and Housing Loss

Three years ago, a bad shoulder seemed like the worst of Dennis’s problems.

But when he went in for his sixth surgery on his right shoulder, tests revealed he had multiple cancers.

The pain and limited motion in the shoulder were old news — and not very surprising given his history. After a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps right out of high school, Dennis spent decades working as a corrections officer, security guard, welder, crane operator and machinist. The years of strenuous work and multiple surgeries on the shoulder left him disabled as of 2003.

The cancer diagnosis, on the other hand, was shocking. The discovery led to multiple rounds of chemotherapy. In June 2024, during one of those rounds, he experienced an additional hardship: the loss of his housing. Undaunted, Dennis put his belongings — including his prized model car collection — into storage and began living in his car.

“I knew I would have a roof over my head and could lock the doors to feel safe in the evenings,” he said. After three weeks, a referral from MetroHealth led Dennis to Joseph & Mary’s Home.

Fueled by Positivity

While at Joseph & Mary’s Home, Dennis continued receiving cancer treatment. Those treatments sometimes required a one- or two-night stay in the hospital, but he was always welcomed back to Joseph & Mary’s Home with open arms to rest and recover.

“The people at Joseph & Mary’s Home had my back the whole time I was down there. They gave me a way of thinking. It ain’t all about me, it’s about everybody. They helped make me a better person than I was,” Dennis said.

Despite his challenges, Dennis looked for opportunities to benefit the Joseph & Mary’s Home community as a whole. He offered to transport fellow residents to appointments and encouraged others to put positive thoughts in their mind. In Dennis’s own words: “I didn’t just waste a day; I made a day.”

Help for the Journey Home

Although Dennis was grateful to be at Joseph & Mary’s Home, he often spoke about wanting a place of his own where he could display his beloved collection of model cars and Hot Wheels. Dennis loves the nostalgia of cars — “they are something that takes you back” — and started buying them nearly 25 years ago.

The Joseph & Mary’s Home team connected Dennis with the Department of Veterans Affairs for help with housing. As a result, he secured a voucher from the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program. FrontLine Service helped with securing items like a kitchen table, couch, chairs and other furnishings.

Six months after arriving at Joseph & Mary’s Home, Dennis moved into his new house in the Broadway-Slavic Village Neighborhood. His primary care doctor is right across the street and family is not far away. Dennis is also right by a high school and looks forward to watching track meets and football games.

“I love living in this neighborhood,” said Dennis. “It is very quiet and peaceful. It is home.”

Most importantly, Dennis’s model cars and Hot Wheels are now all proudly on display, immediately visible when you walk into his home. His face lights up when he talks about his favorites. Everything from his favorite 1941 Mercury to a remote-control Mercedes-Benz are out, featured on shelving units he repurposed and rebuilt.

Still Fighting: Prayers Appreciated

Dennis recently learned that his cancer has not responded to treatment as hoped. He is now only receiving palliative care.

However, he remains positive. A man of strong faith, Dennis said he is “still fighting ‘til the wheels fall off” and is “not done yet; I am just getting
started.” He has home projects to finish, more cars to enjoy, and plans to stay connected with those he came to know at Joseph & Mary’s Home.

“The people there were close to my heart. They still are,” he said.

Dennis welcomes prayers as he continues on his journey.

“Dennis was friendly, outgoing and encouraged others to find and use resources that were available in the community. While he was at Joseph & Mary’s Home, he was always looking for ways he could give back to others.” — Tabitha Quinn, Joseph & Mary’s Home Senior Case Manager and Licensed Social Worker