A Man of Courage

Through the years we meet many different
people and as our lives intertwine, we learn from each other and sometimes
inspire. There are people however, whose lives should be told beyond the
circle of family and friends because their life has the potential to not
only move others but also to offer hope. I've been Blessed to meet such
a person.


The first time I met John he was holding his great-grandson who at the time was a newborn baby. I saw nothing out of the ordinary in this until I came to know his fascinating story. Only then did I realize that in this case the
simple task of holding a baby was nothing short of a miracle.

On September 3,1948 John was in a car accident and in that split second his life was changed forever. A man who had once served in the war was now fighting for his
life. His doctor didn't expect him to make it through the night and when
he did it began a journey that very few people would even attempt
to make.

John had a brokenneck and wasn't expected to walk again. However, he believed that he would walk and with his determination, good people working with him and his desire to live for his wife and daughter, he proved them wrong. After the accident he spent three to four months in hospitals and three to four months at
home before going to Montreal. The therapy he endured was more than most
people would have even attempted but he was a man of great courage and
never gave up. After a year in Montreal he returned home even though he
was advised not to. With the support of his amazing wife and help from
both of their mothers he continued to heal and two weeks later no one could
explain the progress he'd made.

Although John's life never returned to normal, with hard work and great courage he fought to gain as much independence as he could. Although he walked with a limp
and didn't have full use of his left arm, he used his remaining abilities
to be the best that he could be. By 1955 his life was as close to
normal as possible. Despite many health problems that resulted from the
accident, he worked in a bar for 29 years and often took his wife for
drives because he knew how happy that made her.

Over the years, he taught those around him many things and although I wasn't there to witness it, I have seen the end result. As I watch his daughter and grandchildren
I see the gifts he has passed on to them. As he speaks of each
of them his voice is full of love and pride which makes me smile because
he fails to recognize that the good he sees in them comes from him. Their
strength and determination is what he's taught them.

The past six months have been my time to learn from him. My weekly visits have brought on a whole new understanding of him. I've learned of a very complex man
who in all his wisdom sometimes forgets how truly valuable he is. One who
at 85 years old may appear fragile, yet holds incredible strength. Who
even when he is weak and tired can offer comfort and wisdom to those
he loves. I recall him being sick with a cold and as he watched his
daughter the concern and protection in his eyes were so powerful it became
an experience I'll never forget. He's a man wise enough to look past life's
obstacles to see his Blessings and if there's one thing I hope I learn
from him, it would be that same wisdom.

He recently went through surgery and a few days later I sat by his bedside in the hospital. As I watched him sleep I couldn't help but feel an unexplainable strength
in him despite his weak and sleepy appearance. A few days later it became
apparent that it wasn't an illusion because once again he was on the road
to recovery.

He would probably tell me that the hero in this story was his wife for taking care of him and standing by him all those years and I would have to agree. I would
aslo have to add him as a hero for surviving unbeatable odds and
for teaching us not only to reach our limits but to also go beyond
them. He showed us that we can achieve the impossible no matter what life
throws our way. When I asked John what he felt was important enough for me to include in this his response was "God was good to me, and I'm thankful for the help from friends and family." What I believe to be important is that after his recent surgery, he once again beat the odds and we can continue to enjoy the pleasure of his company, the gift of sharing his laughter and the honor of calling him a friend. Sometimes heroes are simply those who choose to live.......<