[Nfbf-l] Don Wilkerson--NFB of Central Florida member

[Merry Schoch]

Dear Sherri,

This is great news!!  Thank you for sharing. Diabetes can take a life that
quickly; remember this is how Dave and Tammy Anspach passed away; within a
year and a few days of each other. Our NFBF family members dealing with this
dreadful disease, please keep yourselves well.

Thanks again Sherri; safe travels and enjoy our family.   Prayers heading
Don's way!

Warmly,
Merry

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sherri Brun via Nfbf-l
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2018 2:48 AM
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: Sherri Brun <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Don Wilkerson--NFB of Central Florida member

I would like to share some news that has a happy ending and could have ended
very tragically.  

 

Some of you may know Donald Wilkerson.  He has been a member of the NFB of
Central Florida for several years.  He moved to Fort Myers in 2012 and a
couple of years ago moved to Orlando, where he has served as an active
chapter member ever since.  He has attended several NFBF state conventions.

 

To make a long story short, I talk with Don often, as we are close friends
and know he had been suffering from a flu-like illness for over a week.
Last Friday Morning, May 18, I tried to call him several times, but his
phone went to voicemail.  Don Loves his iPhone and rarely lets the battery
die.  When I called the office at his apartment complex, the receptionist
said she could not check on him until someone else came in the office,
possibly 2 hours from then.  I immediately called the non-emergency number
for the sheriff's department.  It took an hour and a half and multiple calls
for me to finally learn that an ambulance had come and they found Don
totally unresponsive due to an extremely low blood sugar.  Don is diabetic.
They rushed him to the hospital where even after getting his glucose level
normal, he still did not respond  they said also that his kidneys were
failing.

 

I was extremely worried, but they told us to give it 24 to 48 hours.  On
Saturday morning, Gerry Idler, one of our very helpful sighted chapter
members and a valued friend of mine took me to see him.  He was totally
unresponsive.  He was at that time on very little sedation.  

 

His daughter, son-in-law and 3 grandchildren arrived driving from Illinois
to Orlando.  He has not seen them since he moved away from Illinois 5 and a
half years ago.  

 

I spread the word through Social Media and all of us prayed and sent
positive thoughts.  By Saturday evening, he was able to obey simple
commands.

 

This morning, his daughter called me with the miraculous news that he was
awake and understanding what she said.  On seeing him Sunday morning, he
recognized me and talked with me and even laughed at a joke that a friend of
mine made.  So fortunately, the call was made in time and he is back with
us.

 

He is still not talking much, a rare situation for Don, as many of you know,
but he is out of the woods and improving.  He says hi to all of you.

 

What this has taught me is that we truly are an NFB family who need to watch
out and care for one-another.  Please check on your friends, particularly
those who live alone or may have conditions that can be life-changing such
as diabetes.  

 

I am thankful and grateful to all who supported me with their thoughts and
prayers.  Please continue to keep Don Wilkerson in your thoughts and
prayers.  Thank you my NFBF family and have a wonderful convention.

 

Warmly,

 

Sherri Brun

flmom2006 at gmail.com

President NFB of Central Florida

NFBF Newsline Marketer

Phone:  1-844-827-7371

                                The National Federation of the Blind knows
that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future.
Every day we raise the expectations

of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind
people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what
holds you back.  

Together with love, hope, and determination, we transform dreams into
reality.

 

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