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Partner of the Month-May
-July 2006 page 2  Mary Jean Johnson East Point, GA That Saturday and Sunday was a big blur of activity. It was Memorial Day weekend. Joe had actually suffered several mini-strokes (TIA's) prior to this one. Apparently, he was having these mini-strokes months before this one occurred. I suspected something was going on with this health but this was not in the picture. I was in disbelief. How could this have happened? High blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol was enough on his plate without this added.... Was he going to get better? We both were blind-sided! Fast forward to the present... Life has changed dramatically. At the end of all church services at Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta, where we are members, we all hold hands and sing, "We can do all things in Christ that strengthens us." How has he survived? It was been an experience. Lessons have occurred. Life as we knew it is completely different. If I could go back into the past and change things, would I? Yes, but we don't have that luxury in life. Has this stroke changed both of us? Definitely! Things have happened in our lives together that I clearly see as a direct correlation to this stroke. Life as I previously knew it has been threatened tremendously. Do I want my husband back? Yes! I remember the man I married so long ago. Aggressive, full of potential, overflowing enthusiasm, loving, always positive, fun, happy, free, secure, sweet, interested in life, talkative, and attentive. While he has maintained many of these qualities, some of these adjectives have been replaced. I guess whatever doesn't kill us in life will make us stronger and through love, faith, hope and desire....we stand a fighting chance. But, don't think for one moment that living life hasn't been hard. In order to be successful, every one of us has to work so much harder. Joe has been and always will be a fighter and I know he will succeed with God in our lives.   |
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