When a storm left behind three inches of ice, Louise was determined to deliver a meal to Joyce, who lived alone. Using a sled to go up the driveway, Louise successfully delivered the food and struck up a conversation. When Louise left, she got right back on the sled and went on her way down the driveway, laughing and smiling the entire way. Despite her challenges from stage IV cancer, Louise never missed the opportunity to spend time with Joyce. Although Louise has since passed away, her service, kindness, and friendship has left a lasting impression on Joyce.
Nothing could stop Meals on Wheels volunteer Louise Boom.
When a storm dumped three inches of ice last winter, Louise insisted on delivering a warm meal to Joyce, a 72-year-old Michigan senior. As Louise arrived, she discovered that Joyce’s steep driveway was too slippery to navigate in her car. Undeterred, she loaded food into a sled and hiked up.
After listening to a few stories about Joyce’s beloved grandson, Leo, it was time for Louise to return to her car. Not wanting to slip and fall, Louise lowered herself to all fours. “I do this with my grandkids all the time,” she assured Joyce, who watched nervously from the front stoop.
Then, after giving herself a little push, Louise slid back down the driveway, laughing all the while. When she got to the bottom, Joyce recalls Louise getting up like a gymnast at the end of a routine and waving.
“Her love of giving to other people and her joy were so apparent,” said Joyce. “I was able to meet this incredible friend, who just happened to be a Meals on Wheels driver.”
What makes this story even more impressive is the fact that Louise had Stage IV breast cancer. Though treatments left her feeling sick and tired, she never missed an opportunity to visit with Joyce. She knew the senior relied on her for nutrition and companionship. But she also relied on Joyce.
No stranger to grief, Joyce lost her husband and daughter to cancer, so she understood how terrifying it is to receive a diagnosis. Fortunately, Louise found strength in Joyce’s perseverance and faith.
“We talked about how cancer does not define her,” said Joyce. “I didn’t think of her as a cancer patient; I thought of her as a survivor and a driver. We think those jobs are not that important, but she made such an impact on my life.”
Sadly, Louise passed away on September 14, 2023. But Joyce will always remember the “true friend” who braved a Michigan ice storm to deliver a meal and a smile.
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