Epilepsy Talk
Who was your greatest inspiration? | April 14, 2022
For me, quite simply, it was my grandfather.
After all, I was a pariah. A leper. (No one would say the “E” word.)
I’d never achieve anything. My life was over.
Even though it had just begun.
He put me on his knee and said: “Honey what do you want to do with the rest of your life.”
I knew immediately, I wanted to be a writer.
“OK. You’ll go to Colombia School of Journalism”. Without a beat.
The tragic thing is that he died when I was just 14.
I cried until I had no more tears.
I had lost my greatest inspiration. The one person who believed in me.
Who believed in my talent and my smarts.
It was clear Columbia School of Journalism was a dead deal.
Little did I know that he was to leave me $20,000, so I could achieve what no one thought I could.
He was my hero. And my true inspiration.
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You honor your grandfather by being an inspiration to so many people yourself. Thank you!
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Comment by Daniel — April 14, 2022 @ 10:01 AM
Daniel, you just made my day. Thank YOU!
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 14, 2022 @ 11:01 AM
I would have to say that my mother was a great inspiration to me. Despite going through abuse and abandonment by my father, she was always so devoted to me and my success, giving up her career to take care of me when I became disabled. While she was dying, I told her I wanted to go to grad schoo, but I didn’t know if I could succeed without her. She turned to me in her hospital bed, her face glowing, and said, “Go for it, honey!” Then she died. Everytime I get in a rut or face a big decision, I hear her say, “Go for it, honey!” I can’t let her down.
I also need to say that my other gretest inspiration is YOU! You and I have shared similar challenges, even overcoming death. Yet you have pursued your dreams with passion and purpose. You are helping so many of us, and always with great advice and a remarkable sense of humor. I am so grateful to have you as a part of my life.
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Comment by Mary Ellen Gambon — April 14, 2022 @ 2:01 PM
The feeling is mutual. And you know I always say: “GO FOR IT” to my super achiever friend! 😉
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 14, 2022 @ 2:35 PM
You are my hero! You keep me going even when I want to give up. Thanks as always for your friendship and support.
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Comment by Mary Ellen Gambon — April 14, 2022 @ 4:33 PM
WAS my grandmother, for reason that she all treated us grand kids the same way with her love. I was no favorite over her other 15 she had, as we all stopped getting a 1 dollar bill after age 16 & our 16th birthday, THAT WAS IT, no dollar when we all were 17. Still we all knew we had a special grandmother, who when I was almost 20 she dies from her problems of High Blood Pressure today of all days 4-14-1980, when she had a mild stroke before her death happened. NOW– it’s my mom who is 90 & has out lived her mom by 8 1/2 years is going down that same road it seems, BUT she has with it, A-FIB, CHF, type 2 diabetic, an Anemic with possible blood loss with getting blood transfusions, & Iron infusion now & then, plus having to watch her kidney function, and she is tried of it all, which I have related to being tired of it all living with seizures for over 61 years now. Both of them could never be no inspiration to me, who both said to me before I was a teenager, IF they could live with the seizures, THEY WOULD,, so I would never have them any longer in my life. All I hope for otherwise is for the RAPTURE of Jesus Christ to come for me & my mom who I know we both will see my grandmother who is waiting to see us hopefully sooner than later. I know that day will happen, just like not having seizures, WILL HAPPEN when the day we will see heaven where there is no sickness or disease there & we all are going to be healed.
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Comment by James D — April 14, 2022 @ 2:11 PM
Blessings and prayers to you and your mom James. ❤
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 14, 2022 @ 2:39 PM