We're all standing on your shoulders Thank you Bobbie Smile Everyday
> On Jul 8, 2016, at 2:14 PM, Eric Olson <[email protected]> wrote: > > Nicely done. What level are you? > > On 7/8/2016 12:29 PM, [email protected] wrote: >> On Sunday, July 10, I will have reached a milestone. I have not known many >> people with severe spinal cord injuries reaching this milestone. On July 10 >> it will be 50 years post spinal cord injury. In the past, those on the world >> of quadriplegics were not expected to reach this milestone. In fact, in >> 1968 after 2 ½ years post injury, my parents made the decision to bring me >> home from the Elizabethtown Cripple Children’s Hospital. The head nurse >> took my father aside and gave him some advice. Her advice, take him home, >> buy him a television and wait for him to die. It sounds cruel, but the >> thinking in the 1960s was quadriplegics do not survive a long life. >> >> There are several reasons I have reached this milestone, the first is by the >> grace of God and second is the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War the MASH >> units were advanced resulting in many soldiers returning home severely >> wounded with many spinal cord injuries and our government pushed research on >> how to better their lives. >> >> Throughout the years after 1966, many trials, tragedies, blessings and >> lessons were learned. The 2 ½ years I spent in Elizabethtown >> Hospital helped prepare me for these 50 years. Being exposed to all kinds of >> children with illnesses, injuries and birth defects helped prepare me for a >> life much different than I would’ve ever dreamed. >> >> Starting a small business in the early 1970s seem to reinforce the fact that >> with God’s help I could do anything. I believe that physical issues or >> injuries to a person when they are young gives them the stamina and drive to >> succeed. >> >> I wanted to work in electronics, but was encouraged by OVR (Office of >> vocational rehabilitation) not to go into this field. I always was >> interested in electronics and enjoyed making things spark. I told my OVR >> counselor, if you were not helping me to take a correspondence course, I >> would pay for it myself. The Lord put the need on people’s hearts and I >> would take money sent to me in get well cards and put that toward a >> correspondence course. After I had completed three quarters of the course, >> the counselor realized I was serious and OVR paid the last part of my >> education. >> >> >> The Lord always put you in the right place at exactly the right time. In the >> 1970s and early 1980s our country had a gas crisis. One of the things >> jumping in popularity was the citizens band radio. This was the start of my >> journey into the electronics field. The Lord guided me to treat my customers >> with respect and honesty. I definitely followed his lead. We migrated from >> consumer electronics into business communications, then into the public >> service. In 1998, when we sold the business, we had serviced fire equipment >> through our mail in division to 49 >> States. >> >> Throughout the years I learned many lessons, some hard and some easy, but I >> learned that God was guiding my life. In the mid-1990s my wife >> had a hip replacement surgery go bad and as she was my main caregiver, >> outside people were hired taking pretty much everything we had saved. No >> bitterness, this is God’s plan, suck it up and follow him. That has been >> pretty much what I have done all my life. >> >> The last two years have been quite a roller coaster ride. There were days >> that I did not believe I would make it through, other days I felt like I >> could lick the world. Things are still happening physically, but we keep our >> focus on Him and we take each day as it comes. >> >> I’ve been on the quadlist, probably over 20 years and many times found >> information from others helpful. >> >> I’m going to “ suck it up”, 51 is only 365 days away. >> >> Glenn Henry > > > > > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > > www.avast.com > >
