[Cinci-nfb] Your NFB Membership Observer,

[David Perry]

Dear Fellow Federationist's and Friends,

    Below is your Membership Observer for your reading pleasure.   I would like to collect stories from you regarding some ways that you educate the public about people dealing with blindness maintaining indipendence.   I would like to share your storiies in a future Membership Observer, and hopefully submit these issues on a monthly bases.   It's my sincere hope that you are doing well!   All of you are outstanding to work with, so lets keep living the lives we want!

    Sincerely,

    David C.  Perry,

    Your Federation Friend forever!

    Your Membership Observer,

    Keep Your Song Alive!

    There is always a song throughout every season of life.   No matter how hot or cold the water or air temperatures may appear to be, your season is bound to change at any point.   It's very true that good and bad times come to an end on Earth's side of life without notice, and sometimes there is no way to have control over any particular situation.

    On April 22 2013, A storm came in to my home and life without notice, and certainly wasn't invited.   My storm shook up my life, family, and certainly my wife Jacqueline Perry's physical and mental health abilities.

    It was a beautiful spring like Monday morning, and I was anticipating another day of work when Jacque alarmed me that she was feeling terrible.   She mentioned that she felt very shaky, num., and would even fall when trying to move around on her feet.   After spending two months in the Hospital trying to figure out what was taking place within her body, One of the Neurologist's at the University of Cincinnati Hospital, who is 20th in the United States diagnosed  Jacque with a rare brain disease called Moyamoya on June 28 2013.   Moyamoya causes strokes of many sizes in different areas of the brain, and they just randomly appear without notice.   One out of 2 million people in the US are diagnosed with this disease per year, and lots of  children  in South Africa suffer with Moyamoya.   Unfortunately there is no cure for this terrible disease, and experts are not 100 percent sure what causes Moyamoya.

    On June 29 2013, Jacque had Cerebral  Bypass surgery on the left side of her brain, then the same procedure on the right side of her brain January 3 2014.   Jacque had the privilege of being home a couple of weeks after the first procedure, but was shaken up with a severe stroke July 21 2013 which was the last time she was home.   Jacque was left speechless for 5 weeks following that particular stroke, then suffered another stroke which has effected her mobility right after she was blessed to get her ability to speak again.   Altogether, Jacque has suffered 17 strokes in the front of her brain, from April 2013 to August of that same year.   Jacque is going through lots of rehabilitation, and is expected a very long recovery.   We are not sure how long, but it could take years for Jacque to recover if she even pulls through according to her Physicians.

    Jacque and I were awarded custody of our niece rose just before she started suffering, and even went through a painful move because she needed a place to live without steps due to her knees giving her problems.
    Jacque really expresses that she wants to gain her quality of life back, and get back to spending lots of time with her family and friends.   Jacque did very well with advocating for lots of people with several disabilities, and was always a giver as far as preparing dinners for people who didn't have anywhere to go for the Holidays.   Jacque worked for the Social Security Administration, Phoenix International, Clovernook Center for the Blind, and the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.   Although Jacque continues to suffer physically, she is doing quite well mentally.   She had some issues with being able to concentrate, but is slowly showing signs of improvement everyday.   Jacque shares that NFB Spirit of desiring to live the life that she wants, and will not let Blindness or Moyamoya stop her from living her dreams.

    I remind Jacque everyday that we can get through this, and we are not going to let this disease tear us apart in any manner.   It's always the physically,  mentally, emotionally, and spiritually strong that survive, and we are always victors and never victims!

    The same is true in the area of blindness, and how we advocate for each other throughout the National Federation of the Blind, and all blindness related organizations.      

    The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, and all other affiliates from across the Country are working so hard to change what it means to be blind, and giving everyone the knowledge that all people who are blind are just as successful as everyone else in the world.   It's my sincere pleasure to be a member and friend to this wonderful organization!   What makes NFB so great is that you all are such a wonderful part of this special Federation Family!

    I've really enjoyed sharing my thoughts with you, and look very forward to crossing paths with you in the very near future!   You all are wonderful, and I wish you the best in the days to come!   We should always be a fighter, and never let anyone tell us that we can't achieve our dreams just because we're blind.   Everyone has a story to share, and a song of life to contribute to the world, so lets keep our song alive!

    Take care, and be sure to keep your song alive!
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