Here's the story.

Floyd Hartley has endured Rheumatoid Arthritis and multiple joint replacement surgeries over the past 34 years.  He was employed by Social Security Administration as a Computer Specialist for 26 years.  Floyd was also very active with coaching little league baseball, football, as a volunteer tutor for young adults, and working with The Arthritis Foundation of Maryland .

In January of 2001, Floyd found himself in a nursing home due to a hip replacement that had become infected and had to be permanently removed.  While waiting for his hip to heal, he had elbow replacement and spinal surgery.

Once the healing process was over, Floyd began to feel better about himself physically and mentally.  He then began seeking ways to get out of the nursing home. Floyd had become friends with a member of Maryland ADAPT and CDRC who was then also living in the nursing facility with him named Linda Merkle (Linda’s story can also be seen in the stories section). Linda put Floyd in touch with Maryland ADAPT who informed of the Medicaid Community Choices Waiver program that allows a nursing facility resident whose services are paid for by Medicaid to receive their services in the community. When Floyd applied for the waiver he was contacted by MCIL (Making Choices for Independent Living) and MDLC ( Maryland Disability Law Center ). These two organizations worked together to help Floyd move from the nursing facility to the community with the supports he needed to live independently.

On August 16, 2004 , Floyd was discharged form the nursing facility and is now residing in the community with his sister, mother, and pet dog, Max.

Floyd says, " It's one of the greatest things that has happened to me.  Just having the opportunity to try is all I ask." "When your rope of hope is breaking, reach beyond the break and hold on."