Ray Carreau
Ray is one of those fortunate fellows who loved all aspects of his work. “I would go back tomorrow if I could,” he jokes. Ray began his working life as a parts man for a car dealership, and retired from the City of Calgary after many years managing stock and inventories. In recent years, he sometimes dreams about his time at Manchester Yards, and could visualize where certain stock items were kept.
Ray was born in Edmonton and moved to Calgary with his wife LaVonne in 1967 after a short stint in Vancouver. They have lived in Glamorgan since 1971, and their sons, Todd and Brent, attended Glamorgan Elementary School, A.E. Cross Junior High and nearby high schools. The community was much quieter then, with little traffic noise. Today, Ray, ever the optimist, says, “I’m thankful for all the construction (around Glenmore Trail) because it’s forced the animals closer to our house.” Like many other Glamorgan residents, he has seen a bobcat roaming the neighbourhood lately.
When the boys were young, Ray coached sports and helped with flooding the community rink. More recently, he volunteered at the Glam Shack.
Ray and LaVonne’s life took a sudden turn two years ago when Ray required surgery for hydrocephaly (abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain), which was followed by a brain bleed. “I spent weeks in the hospital and when I came home, I could hardly walk.” He impressed the medical staff with his determination to regain his skills, to the point where he says that at discharge, “they shut the door behind me and said I couldn’t come back!” Ray’s participation in a research study will help make advancements in the study of the rare occurrence of adult hydrocephaly.
Ray is grateful for his wife’s diligence in learning about his condition, and suggests that “LaVonne should have been a doctor. Even the doctors remarked on it. She’s helped me so much.” For her part, LaVonne praises the care they have received: “The health care has been great. They have been super supportive of the whole family.”
One of the biggest adjustments for Ray was the intensive physiotherapy and effort in improving his walking. But he says, “I wouldn’t give up. I knew I had to do it, so I did it.” He currently has assistance with daily physio. “Our neighbours see me walking by with my walker twice a day—I need the walker for balance.” Ray’s memory continues to improve, and his driver’s license was recently reinstated, further increasing his independence.
Ray enjoys puzzles and playing cards, particularly cribbage. In the summer, he helps LaVonne with gardening. He attends the Glamorgan Seniors group and appreciates the opportunity to chat with other residents.
Ray has taken the position that “you live with what you’ve got.” He is an inspiration, for his positivity and dignity in the face of adversity.
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