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

[Judith Hamilton]

Sherri:
This is great news. So glad Don is doing better.
Judy Hamilton


-----Original Message-----
>From: Sherri Brun via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: May 21, 2018 2:47 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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