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

[Karmalynne]

Dear Michael,
So very sorry for your loss, and my condolences to you and your family
at this time.  Sending you all prayers.
Sincerely,
Karmalynne
Vice - President Utah Valley Chapter NFB

On 11/13/22, 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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>
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