Success Stories
Tom Rice, 41, was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ERSD) in 1989, but he hasn't let the disease take away his desire to farm. He handles day-to-day operations seven days a week on his farm in Galesburg, Mich. The farm consists of raising replacement dairy heifers, 90 acres of hay, 30 acres of soybeans, 40 acres of corn and 20 acres of wheat. His daily routine includes feeding cattle, cleaning cattle pens, and helping with the field work.
ERSD is a disease when the kidneys progressively lose their function and fail permanently. Since Tom's kidneys no longer work, he needs dialysis treatments. Tom spends four hours a day three days a week in the doctor's office hooked up to a dialysis machine. Following the treatments, his right arm is sensitive due to the many needle pricks. He experiences joint pains, dizziness and blackouts, and is unable to adjust to extreme hot or cold temperatures because of his varying fluid levels after dialysis treatments.
Because of his needs, Tom knew he had to come up with a more efficient plan for his farm. He needed to be able to work during all temperatures and have a comfortable experience on his tractors to allow him to work on any day without experiencing pain.
In 2005, Tom picked up an Agrability brochure from his county's Farm Bureau office and contacted Michigan Agrability. Soon, an agricultural engineer observed a typical day on Tom's farm and performed an assessment. The engineer came up with suggestions of accommodations and Tom was able to become more aware of the possibilities.
With the help of Michigan Agrability and one of its partners, Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS), Tom has been able to improve the quality of his work environment. MRS helps Michigan residents with disabilities by providing assistive technology, job placement services, or medical equipment based on people's needs and available funding. Tom now has a space heater to keep him warm during the winter months. He also purchased a new a tractor and MRS was able to fund a climate controlled tractor cab. The cab has air conditioning and heat which allows him to work with ease during any season and complete any of the jobs he has to do with the tractor, including hauling manure, baling hay or mowing. His Bobcat skid loader has a new suspension seat that has decreased the amount of jarring and bumping which reduced the pain in Tom's joints.
Tom depends on the farm for financial stability, family bonding and most importantly, overall happiness. He shares the responsibilities of the farm with his parents, wife and son and loves working with his family everyday. He enjoys spending time outdoors on his farm and being the animals. Everyday is a new adventure and after working over 20 years on his family farm, Tom says there is still something different to expect everyday.
For anyone considering Michigan Agrability, Tom says "this is a wonderful program and I hope more people take advantage of it so that people can continue to do the things they love to do."
