Discovering The Mature Lifestyle
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Health & Exercise January Issue
January 19, 2018
Golden Valley couple live life to the fullest despite disabilities By SUE WEBBER Contributing Writer
It would be hard to find a more upbeat, optimistic, self-motivated couple than Paul and Maureen Pranghofer. The Golden Valley couple has many reasons to be otherwise. Both are physically disabled. Paul was born with no arms, and a right leg that is only partially developed. He writes, eats, dresses himself and drives with his feet, and uses a wheelchair. Maureen is blind. She also has Osteogenesis-Imperfecta, known as “brittle bone disorder,” and uses a walker to get around in the house and a power chair when she is outside. Since birth she has had countless numbers of broken bones. After a serious car accident in 1996, both Pranghofers suffered extensive injuries. A benefit given for the Pranghofers following the accident raised money for a new vehicle to replace the Pranghofers’ demolished adapted vehicle, as well as major handicapped accessible remodeling that was needed at their home. After the spinal injury she suffered in the accident, Maureen was unable to walk, stand or use both hands for 11 years. “I started forgiving [hurts from the past] in 2007, and within 24 hours I got my movement back,” Maureen said. Said Paul, “I just bawled the first time I saw her walk.” They have another 12year old adapted van now, but both use Metro Mobil-
ity whenever they can to reach their respective destinations so their van will last longer. Maureen’s newest service dog, 3-year-old Walter, has kept their household lively for the last year. Walter helps Maureen load and unload the washer and dryer, and brings her items on command. He pushes an indoor handicapped button on the wall when he wants to go outside. He is the subject of “The Walter Report” Maureen maintains on Facebook. “I plan to publish a book about him,” Maureen said. Both Paul and Maureen are employed and also volunteer. They are active at the Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove. And they are so valued in their community that their neighbors volunteered to help them remodel their home to be handicapped accessible, so the Pranghofers wouldn’t move away. “Our neighbors found out we were thinking about moving, and asked us what it would take to keep us here,” Paul said. Instead of pursuing the move to Tucson they were considering, Paul said, “Maureen’s dad said we should think about the fantastic support we get from the church and our neighbors. If we moved elsewhere, we’d have to start all over again.” Their neighbors joined forces to donate 1,000 hours of volunteer help to remodel the Pranghofer’s home over a five-month period. “We’ve been blessed with
up in Lester Prairie, has a degree in music therapy and is working on a master’s degree in social work. She started her own Braille It business to transcribe materials into Braille, and now works in sales for
Maureen and Paul Pranghofer of Golden Valley, shown with Maureen’s service dog, Walter, manage a full life of jobs and volunteering, despite their physical limitations. (Photo by Sue Webber) such good, good neighbors,” Paul said. “One did all the drywall and his wife did all the painting. One did the electrical work. Maureen’s brother coordinated all of them. I could afford the materials, but not the labor.” The couple’s backgrounds are impressive: • Paul, a graduate of Marshall University High School in Minneapolis, was a computer programmer for many years. “I could have qualified for disability 30-40 years ago, but I wanted to work,”
Paul said. He now works 17 hours a week at Hy-Vee in New Hope. “My official title is customer service,” Paul said. “I greet shoppers at the front door or wander around and help people find things,” he said. He is in his 37th year of working as a referee for the Minnesota State High School League adapted soccer, floor hockey and softball teams. “I usually work two or three games a week,” Paul said. • Maureen, who grew
WeCo, a firm that employs disabled persons to test websites and see if they’re accessible. “I go into the office once a week for meetings, and to meet with customers,” Maureen said. She also gives motivational speeches, writes music, has produced three CDs, wrote a book in 2005 about her then-service dog called “Ally’s Busy Day,” sings, and plays the guitar and piano. She was a candidate for the Golden Valley City Council in 1997. Both are active with Can
Do Canines Lions Club. Maureen is vice president and Paul is treasurer. Through their church, they are active with Hearts in Action, a group that does hospital visits. “I organize the scheduling,” Maureen said. Also through the church, Paul has been part of a 10-14 day mission trip to Haiti in 10 of the last 14 years. He and Maureen also sponsor two disabled children in Haiti. “One of them saw me writing with my feet and taught himself to do that,” Paul said. “Our church built a special needs home in Port Au Prince,” Paul said. “I really enjoy the trips.” The couple, married for 39 years, met at Camp Courage. They have lived in Golden Valley since 1983. Although they do their own cooking together, they have engaged household help in three areas: • A company to do the lawn work and snowplowing at their home. • A woman to do a thorough housecleaning every other week. • A family friend who comes to their home in between times to change bed linens and do other necessary tasks. A youth group from their church comes to the Pranghofer home on the first Wednesday of the month to lend a hand, as well. “We have really been blessed with wonderful friends from church,” Maureen said. The Pranghofers see no reason to be intimidated by their disabilities. “I’ve always been pretty optimistic,” Paul said. Added Maureen, “You can choose to see the glass half empty or half full. I would much rather look at it as half full.”