At 63, Zane knew one thing for certain: he wanted to go home.
A severe spinal infection had changed his life. Multiple surgeries, rehabilitation and bone loss left him unable to walk and in need of extensive physical and occupational therapy. What began as a medical crisis eventually led to a year-long stay in a long-term skilled nursing facility as he worked to regain his strength and independence.
As a cancer survivor, Zane was no stranger to overcoming challenges. But even as he received the care he needed, his thoughts remained focused on what came next.
“I wanted to get back to my own apartment,” he said. “Being home was important to me.”
That goal eventually connected Zane with Senior Resources of West Michigan and the MI Choice Waiver program. Together with care providers, housing partners and other community resources, Senior Resources helped build a plan to make returning home safely possible.
His former property manager helped him move into an accessible apartment in Hart, Michigan. Transportation and in-home services were arranged, giving Zane the support he needed to live safely in the community while continuing to work toward greater independence.
Today, that support helps with many of the everyday tasks that make living at home possible, including meal preparation, showering, laundry, medication management and transportation to medical appointments.
“I’m thankful for all of it,” Zane said. “The Senior Resources team played a big part in getting me home.”
But while services provide an important foundation for independence, it is often the people providing that support who make the greatest difference.
Each morning, caregiver Courtney arrives to help Zane begin his day. Courtney works for Great Lakes Home Care, one of the agencies that partners with Senior Resources to provide in-home support through the MI Choice Waiver program.
During a recent visit, Courtney prepared breakfast while the two chatted easily. Their comfortable routine reflects the trust—and friendship—that has grown between them.
Courtney has worked as a caregiver for many years, supporting people with a wide range of needs. When asked about Zane, her admiration was immediate.
“He’s the most positive person I’ve ever cared for,” she said. “He’s kind, optimistic, and always has a good attitude.”
She believes that outlook has played an important role in his recovery.
“He’s been through so much medically, and he wants to get stronger,” Courtney said. “It’s a great feeling to know that I can support him and help him move forward.”
For Zane, their relationship is a reminder that independence does not mean doing everything alone. It means having the support to live life on your own terms—and knowing there are people there to help when help is needed.
“It’s such a need for me, and I have such good people caring for me,” he said. “Courtney is always here for me. She makes wonderful breakfasts, helps me around the apartment, and helps me in so many ways. It allows me to stay here and keep getting stronger.”
Being home has also given Zane something he missed during his time in the nursing facility: the freedom to reconnect with the people, activities and moments that make life meaningful.
Music has always been important to him. A lifelong fan of Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, Zane said singing gave him something positive to focus on during his year at the skilled nursing facility. He especially enjoyed entertaining other residents with some of his favorite country songs.
Recently, music became part of another milestone.
For his mother Marie’s 95th birthday, Zane took her to Cowboy Jim’s and serenaded her with some of her favorite Buck Owens songs. After spending so much time away from home and working to rebuild his strength, he was once again able to be part of an important family celebration.
Marie enjoyed the music, but she told Zane that the greatest gift was seeing her son walking on his own again.
It was a milestone he had worked toward for more than a year.
Through determination, physical therapy and the support of people who believed in him, Zane regained his strength and made his way back home. Today, he is living in his own apartment, surrounded by familiar things, family, friends and the music he loves.
He knows how much it took to get there.
“I don’t take any of it for granted,” Zane said. “A lot of people helped me get here.”
For Zane, recovery was never simply about learning to walk again. It was about getting back to the people he loves, the places that feel like home and the moments that make life worth living.
