Isabel Garbutt celebrates 101st birthday
For most of us, birthday parties are a yearly tradition. But for one Belize City woman, one such celebration this afternoon marked a major milestone.
Isabel Garbutt, 101 years old
?I usually go through life the usual way rough and tough. Good sometime or not so good sometime. Life is not a bed of roses for me, but I thank the good Lord for being here today.?
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
?And you are never too old to have a birthday party. What do you think about the birthday party today?
Isabel Garbutt
?I never use to have a birthday party all my grandmother did was have a nice dinner for me.?
Today Isabel Garbutt turned one hundred and one years old. The occasion was celebrated with a birthday party this afternoon at Helpage Belize.
Sharon Polack, Executive Director, Helpage
?A lot of them don?t get any kind of celebrations at home and I realize that. They all look forward to it and they all really celebrate with one another. They make that day for her, for the older ones, and it makes them realize that they can strive. A lot of them say: ?I don?t want to be ninety; I don?t want to get to be ninety!? Now they are saying we can get there; it can be done. As I said it does take a special person.?
Isabel says she tries to remain active in her senior years and hopes to be around for many more. Despite nerve damage in one her legs, Garbutt says she feels fairly healthy.
Isabel Garbutt, 101 years old
?I do a little turning around, a little dusting, and a little sweeping. I wash my own clothes and cook my own food. One thing I have is a pain and the doctor has told me that I have shock nerve. One of my nerves is damaged in my leg and that I won?t get rid of it, but it doesn?t worry me. I go all around. I go to Y, I come here, I go to my church and I go to Dr. Taegar Clinic; I get around. I feel good. I don?t feel like I am at this age. I don?t feel it at all.?
Isabel Garbutt is the second oldest member of Helpage Belize. The most senior member is Viola Myles who is one hundred and three years old.
