Emily Lane-Waters is a CMU junior majoring in recreational therapy and psychology. She currently lives in a sorority house with nine other girls. Like most college students, her days are full of studying, hanging out with friends, and going to classes. What sets Emily apart is her job, which came with an incredible friendship.
Emily is one of twelve full time caretakers for Jacob Hartshorne, a 26-year old man with CHARGE syndrome. Jacob is deaf and partially blind, and has a caretaker with him 24 hours a day. Emily is one of those lucky people.
“I don’t consider this work. Just hanging out with Jake calms me more than stresses me,” Emily shared.
The bond the two have is very special, seen through Emily’s compassion, patience, and happiness when working with Jacob. Although her job involves things that most college jobs do not entail such as administering medications, cleaning up accidents, and prepping special meals for Jacob, she cherishes her time with him.
Emily takes Jacob with her around town on occasion, visiting the smoothie shop, stores and CMU’s campus. She takes him to places where she feels he’d be particularly happy, such as a Halloween store with shiny costumes, although Jacob is happy spending some quality time in the front yard on a nice day as well.
During a trip to the halloween store, Emily couldn’t help but smile with Jacob while he picked out a pair of costume gloves. She knew the rest of the staff would get a kick out of them as well.
Emily’s job extends past her special relationship with Jacob. Other CMU students also work with Jacob, and the entire team is bonded. The usually staff meeting is 20 minutes of business and 40 minutes of hanging out and bonding.
“This job is awesome because it’s not just a bond with Jake, but a bond with Jake’s family,” Emily said.
Emily Lane-Waters, a junior at CMU, lays on the front lawn with Jacob Hartshorne, a 26-year old man with CHARGE syndrome on Monday, Oct. 27, 2015. Jacob, who is deaf and partially blind has caretakers with him 24 hours a day in his home in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.Emily Lane-Waters updates the staff notes in the room dedicated to the twelve care givers that work with Jacob Hartshorne through out the week on Nov. 3, 2015. The caretakers have a room dedicated to them in Jacob’s home, so the over night caretaker has a place to sleep.Emily Lane-Waters prepares a meal for Jacob Hartshorne in his kitchen on Nov. 3, 2015.Emily Lane-Waters cleans up an accident left on Jacob Hartshorne’s floor on Nov. 3, 2015.Emily Lane-Waters, a junior at CMU, holds Jacob Hartshorne’s hand, a 26-year old man with CHARGE syndrome, on Monday, Oct. 27, 2015. Jacob had been suffering form an intense ear infraction, and when he showed signs of discomfort, Emily held is hand and comforted him.Emily Lane-Waters returns home after working a 4 hour shift with Jacob Hartshorne on Nov. 3, 2015. “It’s a lot different from when I’m home,” she said. Emily lives Alpha Gamma Delta’s sorority house with 9 roommates.Emily Lane-Waters, a junior at CMU, jokes around with Jacob Hartshorne, a 26-year old man with CHARGE syndrome by playfully placing a hat on his head while cleaning his room on Monday, Oct. 27, 2015.Jacob Hartshorne interacts with one of his caretakers, Emily Lane-Waters on Nov. 3, 2015. Jacob’s house is full of bright colors and his caretakers share that he enjoys bright and shiny visual stimulus, like these window decorations.Emily Lane-Waters smiles at Jabob Harthorne’s choice of costume hands at halloween store on Nov. 3, 2015. Emily likes to take Jacob around town, stopping at places like tropical smoothies and halloween stores.Emily Lane-Waters smiles at Jabob Harthorne while he plays with his halloween gloves on Nov. 3, 2015. Jacob’s house is bright and colorful, and the main wall displays a bright mural.Emily Lane-Waters, a junior at CMU, walks Jacob Hartshorne, to his parent’s home on Monday, Oct. 27, 2015. “I don’t consider this work. Just hanging out with Jake calms me more than stresses me,” Emily shared.
Kaiti Grant 