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

[Roanna Bacchus]

Hi Sherri thanks for sharing this news with us. I will keep Don in my thoughts and prayers.

On May 21, 2018 2:47 AM, Sherri Brun via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> 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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