D. Irene Ramirez

I was born the 28th of June 1947. I went to Jefferson Elementary School, Frank L. Smart Jr. High, and Davenport Central High. I graduated from Davenport Central in June of 1965. I was seventeen. In December of 1965 at age eighteen, I married for the first time. He joined the navy and I divorced him. I went to Eastern Iowa Community College taking computer science from 1970 to 1972. In April of 1972 I married for the second time and had a daughter. We were divorced in July of 1976. Beginning in January of 1976 I went to Marycrest College, graduating with a BA in English and journalism in June of 1981. I worked as evening and weekend library supervisor until 1983 when I moved to Iowa City to attend the University of Iowa School of Library Science. I did not complete that degree. I worked at the University of Iowa until 1990. I moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa and attended the Kirkwood Community College in the education program. I transferred to Mt. Mercy College's Education Program. I did not complete this program either. In June of 1994 I moved to San Diego, CA. I met my third husband in June of 1996. We did not marry until June of 1999. During that time my lifelong illnesses coalesced into Lyme disease, and fibromyalgia. I became disabled due to Major Clinical Depression. I was and am medicated for the depression. In 2001 my third husband and I divorced. Later my fibromyalgia put me in a wheelchair. My service dog, Donovan, makes it possible for me to live a nearly normal life.

UPDATE:

Donovan had to be euthanized 4 April 2013. I have had a boxer that I had hoped to train to be Donovan's successor. It was not to be. Rambo was too interested in playing and not enough in learning. He was re homed to a young couple with a house, yard, and a boxer named Tungsten who is a little older than Rambo. Tungsten and Rambo play and sleep together all day and night.

I now have a mixed dog named Sally who will be my new service dog. It will take some doing on my part to train her as I am not as motivated as I was with Donovan.

Healthwise I am good.