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Donnelly: Republican volunteers prove party has a heart

By Ann Donnelly
Published: January 14, 2018, 6:01am

Local Republican volunteers meeting recently to conduct routine party business were inspired to hear of an incident at party headquarters several weeks earlier. The sobering tale held some universal lessons that caused a rare moment of self-reflection in the often fractious group.

The revelations came on Dec. 30 at the end of a quarterly meeting of Clark County Republican precinct committee officers. The activists — who famously often disagree among themselves — quieted abruptly upon hearing from GOP Chair David Gellatly that two of their own would soon be honored by the Clark County sheriff for helping an elderly couple impacted with dementia.

The pair of volunteers — Penny Ross and Kathleen Hartson — received a standing ovation from their fellow volunteers.

The unexpected events leading to the upcoming honors occurred last fall at the GOP Resource Center on Covington Road north of Vancouver Mall, where a sign advertises “Clark County Republicans.” The sign evidently was reassuring to a lost elderly couple, the husband affected by dementia, and the wife also terminally ill with cancer — to stop and seek help.

Chairman Gellatly and several volunteers were at work on party activities when the couple stopped their car and parked in front of the door. The man came in for help, but the woman refused to leave the car. The man broke down in tears as he realized he and his wife were safe and would receive help.

After offering water and food, the volunteers extracted the story bit by bit. The couple were from Tacoma. The husband, a veteran and by his own admission affected by dementia, was driving his wife to a medical appointment, also in Tacoma, to get care for a wound. He was distraught to learn that he was in Vancouver.

It is unknown how they ended up on Covington Road, miles from I-5 and more than 130 miles from their intended destination. Based upon the appointment time, they may have been driving in search of the doctor’s office for up to eight hours.

Lessons to be learned

A 911 call drew a Clark County sheriff’s deputy, described by volunteer Kathleen Hartson as “caring and compassionate” and “treating them as he would his own parents,” but who could offer no solutions to the logistical challenge of returning the pair safely to Tacoma.

Ross, who has had experience with elderly individuals impacted with dementia, offered to drive them home to Tacoma, and Hartson stepped forward to drive a second vehicle. Ross recounts that on the drive north the husband, confused but determined to get his wife home safely, repeatedly told Ross “this is our exit, this is our exit.” Earlier he had confessed “it sure is hell getting dementia.”

Hartson and Ross returned the couple and their car to Tacoma, and with the sheriff’s help, arranged for authorities in Tacoma to take steps for their safety from then on. They worry about the husband, so dedicated to his ill wife, now that he will be unable to drive or otherwise help her as before.

This sobering episode is full of lessons. The Republican Party in a moment of human need was a symbol deserving of trust, a challenge not to be taken lightly, and that may be as important as winning elections.

All of us can expect that at some point, the problems of our aging population will confront us in some way, perhaps unexpectedly. Let us resolve to be as caring as Ross and Hartson.

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