 Stan Kearey (1934 - ) There are MANY extraordinary Can Do! People out there who aren't necessarily "famous", but who definitely have a lot of "Can Do!" spirit, and a real "can do" attitude and approach to life. Now you have a chance to learn about one such person - Stan Kearey… in his own words:
My name is Stan Kearey. I had to give up working earlier than I wanted to because at the age of 49 I was diagnosed as having Muscular Dystrophy (limb girdle type) which, at that time, caused me to fall about in untidy heaps on the floor. Now, after some 16 years, it has rather immobilized me. My background is motor vehicle engineering and towards the end of my working life I ended up running a large Ford Truck dealer in England. Back in England I have five sons and here in Spain a sixth, Tim, now 16 years old.
After passing the Spanish amateur radio exam, I talked round the world on my "Ham" radio for a while. Finally though, the arms and hands gave out and I got a bit frustrated not being able to operate the radio properly.
I then became very taken with the thought that I could communicate around the world with my computer, which I could operate with only the very minimum of movement in my fingers and a voice recognition program. I create paintings on my computer using Fauve Matisse and CorelPaint 8, and frame them up as pictures. I e-mail regularly to my friends around the world, some suffering with Muscular Dystrophy and others who share my interest in genealogy. I also, amongst other things, use the computer to make Cross Stitch patterns for enthusiasts that live in the area.
Much of my time is also spent helping a number of Spanish children to cope with the vagaries of the English language. Once again the computer is bought into play creating exercise sheets, examples and homework papers. I've also got some useful English reading books on CD Rom with Spanish translations, which are really good to work with.
I've just recently completed (1996) a "two years of finger and thumb typing" autobiographical and anecdotal book about my experiences called "On Wheels in Spain", which I self published.
It's essential, I think, to strive to achieve things whether you are fit or disabled. Something achieved each day, whether physically or creatively, is an aim that should not be put aside. It represents the core of survival and personal satisfaction in my view, and for my part is my goal each day.
I enjoy my life, my family, my friends, my work and the "laid back" rural life style that surrounds me...... What more could a man want?
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