Charlie Kanavos

Charles Kanavos, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. He completed his education at Lowell High School in 1981 and dedicated nearly 23 years to Coca-Cola, followed by 18 years at the Lowell Housing Authority, where he also pursued a business degree, though he was unable to complete it due to health issues. Currently, he plays an active role as the chairman of the planning board, a member of the community preservation committee, and serves as a commissioner for the Dracut Housing Authority, all while spending quality time with his wife Maureen and serving as a board member of the Manolis Family Foundation, Beaver run condo association, and as a member of the Centralville Sportsmen’s Club. Coming from a tight-knit family, he is the son of Theodore and Jean Kanavos, and has two sisters, Charlene and Cheryl. In 2013, Charlie Kanavos faced a serious health crisis when he was admitted to the hospital with a severe bone infection in his left foot, at which time they had discovered the advanced stages of kidney failure. He began dialysis and continued the treatment for the next five years. Charlie was placed on the donor list, and by May 2018, he received the news that a suitable donor had been found, leading to a successful kidney transplant. However, in 2019, he developed an ulcer on his right foot, which eventually necessitated the heartbreaking decision to have his right leg amputated below the knee. He spent several months in rehabilitation to learn the necessary skills for living as an amputee. Charlie underwent another surgery to remove an infection in his left toe, which resulted in another amputation. Despite these challenges, he received a prosthetic leg and extensive therapy, which has aided him in learning to walk and adapt. He took driving courses and earned his certificate to drive, had his truck retrofitted, yet faced another setback when he received a letter from the registry stating that his license had been revoked due to medical reasons. Charlie and his wife ultimately reached out to the Social Security office to explore disability benefits, he found out he did not qualify because he lacked the necessary work credits to be eligible for Social Security. Despite working for 23 years at Coca-Cola, they only considered the last nine years for eligibility. His family's income was reduced to Maureen, his wife, who was working full-time and a few pensions. Recently, he was hospitalized again with Sepsis and another bone infection in his left foot. During this period, there were discussions about amputating his left leg twice, but ultimately, the decision was made to preserve it, undergoing inpatient therapy once more.  Through it all Charlie and his family believe that while his challenges may seem daunting, they have only served to strengthen resolve and perseverance. They feel incredibly fortunate to have an unwavering support system of family and friends, many of whom have gone out of their way to help through tough times. He holds onto the perspective that there are always those facing even tougher circumstances, which helps him stay grounded and grateful.