LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – Bikers turned on the gas to show their support for another Lexington biker battling severe dementia, and his family shares how they wanted to honor him.
Tina Portwood is one of 13 siblings in the Otis family. With eight sisters and five brothers, the family has always been a close-knit group, she says.
“We’re always together … even after our mother died, we still make an effort to see each other or call each other,” Portwood said. “Denny is about 14 years older than me, but later, you know. Denny and I became very close after our mother died.”
Denny Otis, 81, was so close that he had dinner with Tina and her children almost every night. The two took many trips together to Florida or New York. They even went running together to pass the time.
“He was a really quiet, gentle person. You know, everyone liked him. You know, maybe a little quiet, but he never caused trouble, and if there was trouble, we sorted it out ourselves,” explains Joseph Otis, Denny’s younger brother.
Denny lived a full life and raised a son who now lives in Maine. He served a year as a U.S. soldier in the Vietnam War alongside his brother Joseph, who was drafted at age 17. Denny also helped care for the horses at Keeneland and was one of the many volunteers who put up signposts along the highways.
But for the past decade, Portwood has had a difficult task: supporting and caring for Denny as he battles severe dementia. “I looked after him because he can’t take care of himself.”
In addition to her brother, Portwood also cares for her son, who has been in a coma for 12 years due to a brain injury.
Portwood recalls one of the first times he showed signs of dementia. “He kept repeating himself. ‘I thought I went home. I backed into the driveway. I was at the wrong house. I was on the wrong street,'” she said. “And you know, he just started forgetting things.”
“He’s lost a lot of his personality and the things he was really good at. But I mean, he’s still a really gentle person. He gets along well, doesn’t try to cause trouble, and would still try to help you if he could,” explains Joseph Otis with tears in his eyes.
Over the years, Denny’s condition has worsened. Portwood says doctors told her Denny didn’t have much time left. Within the last 24 hours, the family jumped into action and organized an event called “Ride Your Motorcycle for Denny.” Dozens of motorcyclists gathered at Harley Davidson on Man-O-War in Lexington and rode to Portwood’s house where Denny was sitting. “That’s one thing he remembers. He says, ‘Do I have a Harley?’ and I say, ‘Yeah, but it’s not running right now.'”
Denny bought a 1973 Harley motorcycle and rode it into his 70s. The shiny black bike is still in pristine condition and stood as a display piece as the other motorcycles sped past as a sign of his support and final farewell.
“I told him, ‘You know you’re pretty bad and stuff.’ And he said, ‘Yeah,’ and I said, ‘What do you want me to do?’ And he said, ‘I’m ready to go,'” Portwood recalls the moment she told Denny what the doctors had told her. “I’m not ready for him to go. I’m just not ready. He’s my big brother, I love him to death.”
Portwood says the family will continue to support and love him until Denny decides it’s time for him to move on.
