A few times a week, Eddy Topalli pulls up to the front of the Hale Family YMCA in Quincy, hops out of the car, and opens the door for his elderly mother, Natasha. She walks up to the front desk, pulling her rolling bag behind her, with a warm smile for everyone. She tells the staff that they make her day, and the feeling is clearly mutual.
Natasha and her family have been regular members for more than 15 years. Her grandson, Thomas, works for the Y as a lifeguard. “We see you guys as a second family, as this as our second home. We want to spend as much time as we can at the Y.” says Eddy.
Natasha enjoys the warm water pool, and her regular swim sessions are therapy for her. She tells us how much she misses it when she’s been away, and that she feels so much better after her swim. Some days, the walk to the pool feels like a bit too much, and the Welcome Center staff take turns walking with her. No one minds…they fight over whose turn it is.
Natasha's son Eddy has seen the positive impact coming to our Y has on his mom, keeping her active and social. “I am so grateful for the environment that we have at the YMCA, and the people that we've met. The staff have been amazing, especially the way they take care of my mom. It’s important to me to have people who take care of my mom as if she were their own parent, and who treat her with respect, love, and care. The Y is where she finds happiness, and she always enjoys herself with the different activities you offer. I truly appreciate the care my mom gets from every single person she sees. When I see my mom smiling, that's all that matters.”
We are thankful for Natasha, her family, all the active seniors who are a part of our South Shore YMCA community.
