[Cinci-nfb] Your NFB Membership Observer,

[Marianne Denning]

David, this is wonderful.  We all know how wonderful and supportive
Jacque has been all of her adult life.  She is a fighter and you and
Rose are in the fight with her.  We all do have a story to tell. Thank
you for sharing yours and Jacque's with us.

On 8/16/14, David  Perry via Cinci-nfb <cinci-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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!


-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053