The rhythm of life is more than just a saying for Ivan. He discovered his love for music early on, surrounded by older brothers who were musicians. A fond memory surfaces of how his father crafted his first drum set from Kentucky Fried Chicken buckets. After years of thrilling gigs around the world, including a standout role as the drummer for a KISS tribute band, Ivan shifted his focus to teaching music. He dedicated himself to helping others develop their own relationship with music, particularly children with disabilities.
Ivan lost his job teaching music during the COVID-19 pandemic, which marked the beginning of several obstacles he would have to overcome. In 2021, he went to the hospital after a persistent twinge in his chest that wouldn’t go away. After five days of extensive evaluation, he learned he would need open-heart surgery. After three weeks in the hospital, he had his procedure and began his journey of recovery at a rehabilitation facility. Ivan recalls feeling very weak, needing to build up his strength once more with physical therapy.
It took many months of rehabilitation for Ivan to return to a place where he felt like himself. When he finally reached that point, he faced a new challenge: “I had nowhere to go.” Having to give up his third-floor walk-up apartment while in the hospital, he had to find a new place to live. The facility social worker first shared information about the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program and helped him fill out the necessary paperwork.
Reflecting on his fears during this time of instability, Ivan smiles calmly, stating, “When faced with situations I’m not familiar with, I don’t get scared. I just keep going.” Ivan’s warmth and dedication was a constant tool he used not only to keep his own hope alive but to inspire hope in others at the nursing home. He often advocated for fellow residents to get outside when the weather was nice and even invited his musician friends to play for residents, smiling at the memory of seeing them get out of their chairs to dance. He shares how many of the same people would end up using MFP to get back into their community.
Ivan’s path back home was not without challenges. Delays in getting his personal records especially slowed his MFP process. Ivan describes how fortunate he was to have a friend who was a social worker and was able to help expedite his process in the final stages before his transition out of the facility. On the day he toured his current apartment, he was initially scheduled to see another unit in a different town, but the landlord was late. Ivan sees this as a fortunate turn of events, describing the overwhelming positive feelings that washed over him when he first laid eyes on his new home. “I felt like I belonged here. I just knew.” A grateful smile comes to his face as he describes the many aspects of the apartment that were a perfect fit for him, from the building being accessible and quiet to the walkable neighborhood accommodating all his needs. He recalls how everyone on his team from MFP was waiting for him in his apartment when he was finally discharged from the nursing home. “I walked into a fully furnished apartment. Everything was set.”
As he considers the new challenges in this stage of life, Ivan reflects, “The hardest thing was coming to grips with the fact you can’t work anymore. That was harder than surgery or anything else.” He remains positive, finding new ways to keep music a part of his life. He continues to record and produce music at his friend’s studio and strives for independence – shopping for groceries with his PCA, cooking his own food, and doing his dishes. Ivan and his current PCA have developed a great relationship over time. Ivan stresses how having her with him throughout the week has been fundamental to his adjustment back into the community.
When reflecting on advice for those who also want to transition back into the community, he offers these words, “You’ve got to find your regimen, your routine to keep that hope going. The best way to get through that is to help each other.”
