Maria Buezo, Gerry and John Hart
by Richard Bermack

Sept-Oct 2001

“This is my life and my profession. I don’t know why, but I have something in my heart for people who are disabled. The most important thing in my life is to help other people,” states community integration specialist Maria Buezo. Buezo worked for seven years teaching elementary school children how to read and write in her native country, Honduras, before moving to the United States. She enjoys helping her clients become more independent and integrated into the community. Gerry is one of her favorite clients. “Before I started working with Gerry, people said he couldn’t speak. Now he can say his name, the date, what classes he is taking.” she adds with pride.

Gerry’s father, John Hart, is very appreciative of the services Buezo provides his son. “As soon as he sees Maria, he goes running right toward her. They get along beautifully,” he reports with satisfaction. “I’ve definitely seen the change in him. He is speaking much better than he ever did before. He has vastly improved because he gets so much input from people of all different backgrounds. He is more open and more verbal. His physical skills have improved. He is walking and running more. Before he was rather reclusive. He was very quiet and not as outgoing. I have seen improvements in every venue. Over the last year and a half he has really pepped up and become more expressive. We are very gratified by the program.”
Gerry is 22. He has had two open heart surgeries. “It was challenging physically, mentally, and emotionally, but we picked up the gauntlet and adapted to it,” Hart explains. “And now we live with it very nicely. He never gives us trouble. He eats well and just needs a lot of care and guidance. We have to hold his hand to walk across the street. We take him with us wherever we go, and we are glad to have him with us. He’s not an anchor. He has a dynamic personality of his own, and other people relate well to him.”
The Harts have taken Gerry everywhere from Reno to Ireland. On Friday nights they especially like taking him to the Irish cultural center where, according to his father, he dances up quite a storm. And how does he do in Reno? “We give him about $40 and put him in front of a quarter machine, and he usually comes back a winner,” John states and then sighs, “I only wish we’d do as well at the blackjack tables.”