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

[Patricia A. Lipovsky]

Sherri, 

What a close call.  I'm so happy this turned out on a positive note.  Although I did not know Don that well, I did meet him at one of our state conventions, and he seemed like a very nice person.  He spoke about the Nfb in very high regards.  Just another example of how we need to stay in close touch with those who live alone. 

----- Original Message -----
From: Sherri Brun via Nfbf-l  <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Date: Monday, May 21, 2018 2:49 am
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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Be yourself, EVERYONE else is already taken
PL