Professor of Perseverance

It’s our decision on how our day starts; right. Well, I believe that can be debatable. People say that if something happens to you it’s your choice to become mad. If circumstances out of your control put you in an undesirable mood, it’s your fault others would say. I think its O.K. to get mad when someone is out of control and their actions effect you. For example, a family going to church and a drunk driver hits them. Yes, it’s acceptable to get angry, but no it’s not right to hang on this angry for what seems a life time. During a football game, I became paralyzed due to someone’s irresponsibility. After learning I’ll not walk again, I was furious. It took time but I was able to forgive him while hoping the best for him. I think he visited me once at the hospital. While looking at the floor lying face down on a Stryker frame, two people came to visit and raise my mortal. After a short time, it was time for them to leave. I heard the door close but suddenly the door opened and ...

While walking Ricardo in his favorite venue, a woman approached us saying, ”I read your book.” My response, “Excuse me?” “Didn’t you write a book? I remember the picture with you and your dog on it.” She replied. “Yes.” I said, “One More Play.” As she was petting Ricardo, obviously he is not spoiled; I asked her, “How did you acquire my book?” She then explained, “I was locked up in the Sumner County Jail. One More Play is in the Sumner County Jail Library in the Christian section.” Who would have guessed my book, One More Play, is helping someone in jail? It goes to show; you never know who you are helping and whatever their circumstance. About eight months ago, I learned one of my children books, Never Fear Ricardo is Here, was used to encourage and help two sixth grade students read. They were in the sixth grade with a low reading level. In June, I received the privilege of meeting these two young men and witness their new reading skills. Not only could they read bett...

What would you do? If you were wheelchair bound, it is time to get out of bed and transfer to your wheelchair. When all of a sudden the wheelchair has a mind of its own and it moves without you. You’re traveling to the floor at a high rate of speed and you have a hard stop on the floor like a sack of potatoes. Then, you realize the position that you landed the phone is out of your reach. What would you do? Dr. James Perdue, a quadriplegic since the age of nineteen from a football game, experienced this situation. What did he do? James spent the next two and a half hours dragging himself from the bedroom to the living room so he could call for assistances. Today, if the circumstance was to repeat itself, James can call Ricardo to the rescue! Ricardo is a handsome black Labrador retriever who provides assistant for James. Ricardo can pick up items off the floor such as cell phone, keys, clothing, and many other items. Ricardo can turn lights off and on, open and close drawers, as we...

Our biggest preventer in not being successful or happy in life, is not other’s influence, although the people we associate with on a daily base seem to influence us in our lives, but it is our own self doubt. We talk ourselves out of trying something new such as being the next American Idol contestant, the inventor to make life easier, the cure for a specific disease, getting help to overcome an addition, or whatever you can think. Why do we self doubt ourselves? We are comfortable where we are in life. We are in a certain routine that makes sense to us. If we do something different, our routine changes. The people in our lives might disagree with our decisions. We think the worst that can happen is that we try and fail. We don’t want to be a failure so it’s easier not to try. There are two type people in this world. The, I’ll sit back and wait for the world to give me something. They believe the world and other people owe them something. They wait for opportunity to come to them an...

When a family gets kicked in the teeth from life, what’s there to do? A mother and father decide to assist other families to make their struggles feel of love and care. Be sure to tell your mother you love them on this Mothers Day. Simply Making Isaac’s Laugh Eternal (SMILE), Inc. was founded in honor of Isaac Bode, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) which was complicated by a rare genetic translocation (17/19). Isaac was always known for his quick wit and endless humor. Even through cancer, he continued to be quite the charmer. Isaac was 16 years old when he was diagnosed and was so humbled by the gifts and cards he received from total strangers while in the hospital. He said, “That’s cool. When I get better, I’m gonna do this.” Isaac went to be with Jesus less than five months after his fight for his life began. So, Isaac is better now and this is how he is continuing to make other kids smile. SMILE benefits the families at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hos...

March 15th was National Storytelling Day. Ricardo, my service canine, and I were invited to share a story of how we became companions. My story was about overcoming adversities and difficulties. We will all have challenges in life that will push us to our limits – at least we think. Sometimes we need someone to help us through our tragedies – a spouse, a doctor, a friend, a family member or a total stranger. On this day, little did I know that I would be providing the inspiration this woman, a stranger, needed. I had eight minutes to tell how I got paralyzed, my diagnoses, and my accomplishments. Everyone met Ricardo and he demonstrated how he assists my needs. Like always Ricardo stole my thunder – ha! After the day and all the programs were over, there was time to meet and greet the storytellers and authors. A woman who I believe to be in her fifties maybe sixties, came to talk with me. She explained she was dealing with an issue in life. While listening to my story, she told me...

My mother, Kate, is the strongest person I know, not physically strong, but emotionally, spiritually, and character strong. If I take the letters MOTHER, I can describe her to a tee. M anaged to be the jack of all trades. She could help work on cars, build an additional room to the house. She was my personal catcher, doctor, and nurse. O pened her home to all. She was mother not to just her own children but mother to other children in the neighborhood. She would feed us, correct us, discipline us, provide financial support as well as emotional support. She would be proud of all of us, even though we might have disappointed her. T he nerves of steel. Mom could handle any situation that came to her. She raised her three sons and the neighborhood children after my father died when I was sixteen years old. She came to the hospital with an amazing calm and positive attitude when she found out that I had broken my neck and would be paralyzed the rest of my life. Even after I had a...