The Fulton County Democrat Central Committee is joining in the effort to raise funds for retired Congressman Lane Evans' ongoing health care.
Congressman Evans was instrumental in helping so many people in Fulton County and now it is our turn to help him, say Democratic Central Committee officials.
Anyone interested in making a donation can mail a check donation to:
Lane Evans Health Care and Assisted Living Fund
Fulton County Democrats
1055 W. Locust Street
Canton, Illinois 61520
Lane Evans' smile is imperfect these days — slightly askew, but honest. With the daily burdens he wears openly, the smile acts as a sort of shield, a way of fending off any thoughts of self-consciousness or pity from others.
He has the shuffled gait and his voice trails off sometimes in mid-sentence, even mid-thought. His physique, once Marine strong, is now weak, his hands tightened and curled into near fists.
But the smile takes on its own sort of life, its own sort of defiance, as if it won't concede to a body betrayed by the ravages of Parkinson's disease, and more recently, a mind afflicted by Lewy Body Dementia.
On this day Mr. Evans is sitting on his couch at the Lighthouse at Silvis, an assisted-living facility where he lives. Next to him is Cher Erickson, a caregiver and one of two court-appointed guardians for the former 12-term congressman.
Mr. Evans agreed to talk recently with The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus about the challenges he now confronts each day.
"Just take your time," Ms. Erickson tells him.
Mr. Evans tries to convey his thanks for the help and the support he has received.
"I try to make the most of what I've been given," he said softly. "With the tremendous amount of effort that has been given (back) to me, I feel good about that."
Glad to have visitors
Before photo editor Todd Mizener and I entered his apartment last week, Ms. Erickson stepped outside into the hallway and asked us to wait.
"Let me help him up first," she said. "He wants to meet you standing up."
When we entered, Mr. Evans stood before us wearing slacks and a dress shirt that hung loosely on his body. He offered his hand, a hello, then shuffled quietly to his couch with the assistance of Ms. Erickson.
He is genuinely glad to see people, as if muscle memory brings him back to what he enjoyed most throughout his career.
No longer making speeches or greeting people at the local VFWs, union halls or Friday night high school football games, his life is here in this apartment. A large-framed drawing of a Marine drill sergeant standing at attention hangs in front of him against the wall.
"That's his favorite right there," Ms. Erickson said.
Sometimes, words and thoughts spill out like clear water. Other times, the message becomes murky. Even then, he seems acutely aware of the fences he can't climb over.
"Let me regroup," he said after one question.
Mr. Evans was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1995. Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) was diagnosed in the last few years. It affects his cognitive skills and attention span, among other things. Ms. Erickson said he is taking medications now for LBD that seem to be helping him.
Mr. Evans is never alone in the sense that he has around-the-clock care. Friends also drop by, usually on Fridays.
"He enjoys watching the news," said his former economic advisor, Jerry Lack. "He has CNN on all the time."
Once a voracious reader, Mr. Evans no longer can do this because of the LBD.
"Even just listening to books on tape, he can only do that for a short period of time," Mr. Lack said.
Despite the many friends, he's solitary, removed from the political landscape he once called his home turf. Like a kid living too far away to play with others, he's left now to himself and his own challenges.
From a distance, though, longtime colleagues, even the President, root for him. In a personal letter dated Aug. 4, Barack Obama sent Mr. Evans a birthday greeting. In the letter, the President wrote, "As a veteran, a congressman, and now in your retirement, your earnest and faithful public service inspires future generations to extend a helping hand and build a better world."
Living day by day
The second-floor residence has a sliding glass door to the east that lets sunshine in to his small front room.
"He wakes up with a smile each morning," Ms. Erickson said.