"There is within each of us a potential for goodness beyond our imagining, for giving which seeks no rewards, for listening without judgement, for loving unconditinally."  -- Elizabeth Kubler Ross

BILL & WILLIAM

William is in his mid-nineties. Everyone calls him "the judge" as he was both a prosecutor and a judge in Chicago during the days of Al Capone. His family lives back East. Bill is a working professional who has lived in Marin for thirty years. Until Bill, the judge's only visitor was a former chauffeur who now takes him to lunch from time to time. Bill's weekly visits are a time to share and reminisce and laugh with a friend.

MARLYS, "MOLLY" & SHIRLEY

When Marlys and her bichon frise dog, Molly, first met Shirley she was slumped over in her wheelchair and she appeared incoherent. However, as soon as she saw Molly she held Molly's face in her hands and kept telling her how cute she was. Within a few minutes, Shirley was a different person. She was smiling and talking - telling Marlys about a dog that she had years ago. The medical staff has remarked that Marlys and Molly's visits have truly helped Shirley out of a deep depression.

ANALISE & ALICE

Analise was seven when she asked to be matched with someone in a nursing home as a LITA friend. At 82, Alice was lonely and depressed. She had lost interest in life, refusing to get up in the morning, bathe, or dress. Then, she met Analise and everything changes. They made a heart connection on their first visit together. Now Alice asks to be the first up and dressed on Saturday. She double-checks her hair appointment each week because Analise will visit on Saturday. Alice has a bright pink sunhat that Analise gave her for when they sit outside together. Analise and Alice are expert trivia players and win prizes every time they play at parties! Four years have passed and Analise and Alice are still the best of friends.

EDWARDA, "Matisse" & MARIO

"Matisse" and Edwarda were matched three years ago with Mario, a patient with serious short-term memory loss. Mario's wife had passed away and he had no family. Born in France in 1911, Mario was a successful businessman and entrepreneur. He beamed the first day Edwarda and Matisse visited. Matisse is a 94lb malamute dog with gentle and loving disposition. Edwarda is a lovely, vibrant Portuguese woman. As the weekly visits progressed, Mario would hold Edwarda's hand while they talked. He loved to hug Matisse. At the end of each visit Matisse would shake Mario's hand. From week to week Mario could not remember their names, but he knew they were his special friends. Mario passed away last June. He was 88. Edwarda is grateful for the chance to bring so many moments of joy to Mario. She says it is so special as real joy can only be counted in minutes and hours in any life.

EILEEN & LOUIE

Louie likes to say he was born in 1912, the year before the Titanic sank. He is a great storyteller, a World War II vet, an avid sports fan and a world traveler. Shortly after his wife died Louie's childhood polio returned forcing him to move to an assisted care facility. When Louie heard about LITA friends he asked to be matched with a man, someone to share war stories and talk about football or baseball. Even though Eileen was certainly not a gender match, she was a perfect match in so many ways. Her Father-in Law fought in WWII with General Patton, her husband was a career military officer and her son-in-law is in the Navy where Louie spent so many years. Eileen can match wits with most men on sports history and stats and she and Louie are devoted fans of the 49ers and the Giants. Louie's polio makes it very difficult for him to walk. Eileen's friendship brings back some of that world he can no longer experience.

RON & WILLIE

Ron started volunteering with LITA eleven years ago. Ron believes that the secret to happiness is getting "out of yourself and giving back to others." Ron found LITA. Ron visits every Thursday from 1 - 4pm. He visits ten people and considers it a privilege to know each and every one. His favorite is Willie. Willie tells Ron he had to live by the seat of his pants most of his life. He has been a huckster, a gambler, a cook and a laborer on the railroad. At 85, he likes to share bible stories, he enters every program, and loves to laugh and to tap dance! It is clear to Ron that all his friends enjoy their visits. A few days before a friend passed away, she took Ron's hand and thanked him for "being the only friend she had." Ron believes that the desire to live is basic to human life - whether you are nine or ninety. LITA friendships remind him how wonderful it is to be alive.

KELLY & GEORGE

When Kelly met George, he was very withdrawn. He refused to participate in activities and would not speak to people. Kelly and her Siberian Husky Kayo were matched with George after an Activity Director noticed that George actually responded to a visitor with a dog. Kayo always got a goodbye hug from George. Weeks later, on Thanksgiving Day, while George was saying goodbye to Kayo, Kelly said, "Ok, I am coming in for one of those." Kelly and Kayo opened George's heart and mind. He participates in all sorts of activities. Even though George is blind, he hold Kayo's leash when they go for walks together. The Activity Director who first suggested this match to LITA continues to be amazed at the changes in George.

LORI, ETHAN, GAVIN & MARY

Lori joined LITA as a volunteer in the One-to-One Friends for the Elderly program when her son Gavin was born. Gavin and his old brother Ethan's grandparents live in Kansas. So, at ages two months and four years, Gavin and Ethan joined Lori as LITA volunteers. Although Lori and the boys were matched with Mary, a resident in her nineties, they found they had at least 8-10 other "grandparents" just waiting their weekly arrival. Gavin is a very happy little guy and he ends up in many laps before each visit is done. When Ethan was young, Lori noticed that he was frightened when they would encounter an elderly person in a wheelchair or walker when they shopped. She wants her boys to grow up with positive memories of older people.

SHAUN & BABE

Shaun is seventeen-years old and Babe is one-hundred-years-old. After just a few visits, Babe told Shawn, "You are helping me open my eyes again." The power of just one weekly visit to a lonely person is life changing. Babe loves to listen to his favorite artist Tony Bennett. Shaun taped from some old record albums so Babe could play them in his room at the nursing home.

ASHLEY & KIKI

Sixteen-year old Ashley has taken on a very special challenge with her lab/cattle dog mix friends Kiki. They visit fifteen residents of an Alzheimer's facility weekly. Ashley and Kiki go to each person and spend a few minutes. From week to week one gentleman told Ashley about a dog he had when he was young. After many visits, this same man said, "Hello, Kiki" - he remembered her name. Animals, children, and music are powerful emotional pathways for people with dementia.

UGO & "Briggs"

When all 101 pounds of sleek fur and boundless energy amble into a room, people can't help but beam with pleasure. Briggs is a Bernese Mountain dog who visits Henry and several other residents of an assisted living facility in San Rafael weekly with Ugo, a retired police sergeant. Everyone wants to hug and pet Briggs, even the frailest person in the room.

BILL & WILLIAM

William is in his mid-nineties. Everyone calls him the "judge" as he was both a prosecutor and a judge in Chicago during the days of Al Capone. His family lives back East. Until Bill, the judge's only visitor was a former chauffeur. Bill's visits are a time to reminisce and laugh with a friend.

TAMARA, BRADLEY & JUNE

Tamara and her five year-old son Bradley visit 82-year old June. June is a twin. This is the first time in her life that she has lived apart from her sister who lives in L.A. Bradley and June love anything to do with frogs. One Sunday, he found a frog picture book at Borders and asked his mom if they could bring the book to June that very day. Tamara and Bradley think June is an amazing woman and June feels the same about her new friends.

Julian & Robert

Fifty-one-year old Robert has Lou Gerhig's Disease (ALS). Although his mind is alert he is imprisoned in his body. Before Robert became sick, he enjoyed mountain climbing and bird watching with friends. This disease has robbed him of movement and speech. Julian, a local realtor, was recently matched with Robert. He visits Robert frequently and has researched ALS on the Internet to find ways to help Robert communicate. Julian takes Robert in his wheelchair on a walking path that follows a beautiful creek abundant with shorebirds. Robert has no family here and Julian's visits bring him much needed companionship and stimulation.

Richard & Clarence

Clarence is in his fifties and he has a degenerative muscular disease. As his condition worsened, Clarence isolated himself in his room and went into a deep depression. LITA matched Clarence with Richard, an attorney who has a busy law practice. Richard's friendship with Clarence proved to be a perfect match. Within less than a month, Clarence's LITA friendship with Richard brought him out of his room and he looks forward to Richard's weekly visits. Additionally LITA arranged for several nursing facilities to receive donated computers in order for residents to be able to "surf" the Internet and e-mail to family or friends. Clarence's only family is a daughter who is in the army and stationed in Korea. Clarence has started to e-mail her on a regular basis.

Joy & Judy

Joy is a woman in her fifties who suffered a severe stroke that left her paralyzed and unable to speak. Joy was very depressed, refusing to leave her room or work with therapists to learn to walk again. Since being matched with Judy, Joy is a different person. In a very short time, Judy and Joy became close friends. Judy's husband recently passed away and her children are in college. Judy's once full life has become very empty and her visits with Joy fill a great void for her. Joy uses a letter board to communicate with Judy. Joy started to walk again with the aid of a walker.LITA friendships truly benefit both volunteer and resident in profound ways.

Sandy, "Chico" & Cathy

Cathy is a bright, talented woman in her forties. She is too young to be calling an assisted living facility her home. Sandy and her Beagle, Chico were recently matched with Cathy. Sandy is thirty-something and shares Cathy's love for animals and crafts. They plan to make jewelry together, take walks with Chico and enjoy the beginnings of a new friendship.

Rick & Stan

Rick was recently matched with Stan, a thirty-three year old man with a severe brain injury that has left him imprisoned in his body, unable to speak. Rick is a computer/internet specialist and a practicing Buddhist. Stan is a former marine who fought in the Desert Storm Campaign and was a champion wrestler. They share a passion for science fiction. Rick visits several times a week. He often reads to Stan from one of his favorite books.