[Noozhawk’s note: Second in a series sponsored by the Hutton Parker Foundation. Click here for the first article.]
They call them “The Breakfast Club.”
Every day, Peter Ortiz feeds his 37-year-old son, Brian, at Hillside in Santa Barbara.
Brian has Killian syndrome, a rare chromosomal disorder, and he lives in a residential home that supports more than 50 other adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Hillside, an independent nonprofit organization founded in Santa Barbara in 1945, provides support to its residents’ efforts to maximize their cognitive, physical, social and emotional abilities, so they can attain their highest level of independence in an environment in which people are treated with dignity and respect.
Peter arrives at Hillside at 7 a.m. for breakfast.
At 5 p.m., he returns to the residential facility nestled on a 24-acre campus at 1235 Veronica Springs Road, and Peter feeds his son dinner.
“There is a group of residents that latched on to us,” Peter said. “They all want to sit with Brian, and it’s a lot of fun.”
At the table, Peter will play music on his phone and have friendly conversations.
“They tell me about their day,” he said. “I tell them about mine.”
Peter, who retired in 2008, will sometimes travel for vacation, but he is confident his son is receiving quality and proper care at Hillside.
Several dedicated health-care professionals have been part of the organization for about 20-30 years, Peter explained. Hillside staff use person-centered plans to help residents achieve optimal health and maximum independence.
The nursing staff will keep Peter up to date about Brian, who has been living at Hillside for five years.
“I’m always comforted by the fact that they are so caring,” he said. “I’m here (at Hillside) every day, so I see it.”
Brian’s syndrome is a result of an extra chromosome. There were just 12 cases at the time when the Ortiz family learned about it years ago, Peter said.
About four years after Brian was born, he was diagnosed with the syndrome by a New York-based doctor studying laboratory test results.
Brian, the younger of two Ortiz children, had also spent time in and out of a children’s hospital and endured several surgeries.
Before moving to Hillside, Brian lived with his parents, Peter and his wife, Cindy, for 33 years.
Peter lives in the neighborhood, so he doesn’t travel far for his daily visits.
“I’m lucky to live close by,” he said.
Thirty-nine years ago, the Ortiz family moved into a house across the street from Hillside. Peter recalls seeing Hillside residents in wheelchairs in the neighborhood, saying, “Hi,” and having other kind interactions.
He also was introduced to the organization because a longtime friend’s mother worked at Hillside years ago.
Peter’s other good friend, who is a tribal member of the Chumash, worked at Hillside when he was younger.
When Brian was 10 or 11 years old, Peter sought a court-approved conservatorship that gives his father control over much of his life.
Decades later, the now 74-year-old father started considering other residential options for his son.
Peter, a member of a popular motorcycle group in Santa Barbara, participated in a few charitable fundraising activities that helped raise money to benefit Hillside.
“I thought about this place a few times,” Peter said of Hillside. “As the years went by, I kept looking at a place.”
Peter checked out other residential facilities in Santa Barbara and Ventura.
An application was submitted to Hillside, and about two months later, Peter received a call.
“They said ‘bring him over,’” Peter said. “My wife and I talked it over, and we were in tears, and he is only going to go across the street, but he is still leaving home.”
The move and the adjustment to living at Hillside was nice and smooth for Brian.
Everyone liked Brian, Peter said.
At the time, Brian had three roommates and they were all “nice residents,” Peter said.
“He was here not even a week, and he was already cozy,” Peter said of Brian.
Brian loves music, painting and excursions. He also enjoys going to the art walk on the waterfront, the carnival, local shows and exploring out in the community.
Peter described his son’s life at Hillside as “good.”
“In all, this place has been good,” he said.
When asked what Hillside means to Peter and his family, he replied, “It means peace of mind. I’m happy that he is here and he is being treated so well, and the people that are here are dedicated, really dedicated to the residents.”
Click here for more information about Hillside. Click here to make an online donation.
— Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
