[NFBC-Info] It is with a heavy heart that I send this to you

[Lyn Gwizdak]

Michael, my condolences ces to you on your wife's passing. Healing and
peace to you.

Lyn Gwizdak and Ari
San Diego Chapter of NFBCA

On Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 7:36 PM Jennifer Gass via NFBC-Info <
nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Condolences for your loss Michael, may God be with you and comfort you as
> you honor Karen’s memory.
> Jennifer Gass
>
> > On Nov 13, 2022, at 6:47 PM, mike michaelhingson.com via NFBC-Info <
> nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > In April 1972 I attended my first meeting of the Orange County chapter
> of the National Federation of the Blind. It was an adventure, and I chose
> by attending to explore this new and for me different world. Through the
> federation I have been involved in many adventures and am certain there
> will be more. In 1976 I began an 18-month assignment from Dr. Jernigan to
> help Dr. Ray Kurzweil bring his dream of a reading machine for blind people
> to fruition.
> >
> > I think my greatest adventure was not, however, directly related to the
> NFB. Oh, a Federationist started me down an unexpected road when, in
> January of 1982, he introduced me to a woman, Karen Ashurst. Little did I
> know that day what would happen. Suffice it to say that Karen and I were
> married on November 27, 1982.
> >
> > Karen and I began to share not only NFB adventures but many others as
> well. Probably many of you are familiar with what must be the most
> significant one, I escaped from Tower One of the World
> > Trade Center on September 11, 2001. In 2011, Thunder Dog; the story of a
> blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust was published. If you did
> not know Karen directly, but if you read Thunder dog you did get to meet
> and know her.
> >
> > Yesterday, November 12 2022, just 15 days before we would have
> celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, Karen passed away. Her passing was
> somewhat expected, but not so soon. She discovered a wound, probably from a
> pressure sore, in late July. Yes, a pressure sore as Karen is a paraplegic
> and has been in a wheelchair her entire life. As I love to say, she reads,
> and I push. Anyway, the sore eventually required her to go to the hospital
> in late July.
> >
> > She returned home on August 28 with a healing wound, but with an
> extremely diminished appetite and a great deal of pain. Karen has suffered
> from Rheumatoid Arthritis since January of 2017. She has been receiving
> infusions of medications to diminish the RA, but those infusions seriously
> lower her immune system. She had to stop the infusions in August while in
> the hospital. This was because lowering her immune system further could
> result in more wound infections. The other side of the coin is that it
> caused Karen excruciating pain. Over the past three months the pain took
> its toll as her appetite diminished and she couldn't even swallow much food.
> >
> > This past Monday, we put her back in the hospital. Over this week her
> strength and stamina dropped precipitously. Yesterday, at the suggestion of
> her doctors with agreement from Karen's sister, a retired CCU and ICU
> nurse, we stopped life support.
> >
> > Now, we move on. I write this long message as I know many of you had
> some contact and knowledge of Karen. I want everyone to know fully about
> her, what happened to her and what happens now. I intend to continue to be
> active where I can. I will not stop moving forward as that would be an
> insult to Karen and all our 40-year marriage meant to both of us. I will
> continue to travel and speak. I will continue my work with accessiBe. I
> will work as I can to support the NFB. Most of all, I will have and
> treasure 40 years of memories with Karen. Life goes on and it is what I
> intend to do as well.
> >
> > God bless you, Karen. You always are and will be at the forefront of my
> mind and heart. For all of us here on Earth, let's continue to move forward
> and grow until the entire world understands and believes that "disability"
> does not mean inability, but rather such is just a characteristic.
> >
> > Thanks for reading. If you knew Karen and are saddened by this message,
> don't be. Instead renew your conviction for equality for all of us. I know
> Karen today is, as Dr. tenBroek would say, "Within The Grace of God".
> >
> > Best Regards,
> >
> >
> > Michael Hingson
> >
> > The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
> > "Speaking with Vision"
> > Michael Hingson, President
> > (415) 827-4084
> > email: mike at michaelhingson.com<mailto:mike at michaelhingson.com>
> > To check on Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event
> please visit http://www.michaelhingson.com<http://www.michaelhingson.com/
> >.
> > I invite you to listen to accessiBe's podcast "Unstoppable Mindset",
> where Inclusion, Diversity and the unexpected meet. We are excited to share
> that Unstoppable Mindset has been named by Podcast Magazine as its February
> 2022 editor's pick. The podcast is hosted by Mike Hingson and can be heard
> wherever you can find podcasts or you can visit
> http://www.michaelhingson.com/podcast. When you listen to Unstoppable
> Mindset please take the time to give us a five star rating. Thanks.
> > _______________________________________________
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