Treasure in my own backyard

Day 261: "Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself.-Walter Anderson

Back in 1973 James Shepherd suffered injuries that would keep him in a hospital in Brazil for five weeks. His injuries were like threatening and only by the grace of God and three physicians He worked through is he alive today. That was 37 years ago and because there was no place in Georgia to treat his type of injuries his family built the Sheppard Center. The Sheppard Center specializes in spinal cord injuries and rehabilitation.

I took a tour conducted by Alana Shepherd who by the way turned 80 years young today and it was nothing short of amazing. It was so evident this has been her life's work as she maneuvered us thorough almost every aspect of what they do. The patients were courageous and each one was fighting through all kinds of intensive therapy to get back some semblance of what they lost.

I thought I was well versed in the kind of facility the Shepherd Center was before I was invited to this intensive tour. Only to find out that I knew nothing in comparison to what I experienced today. I went thinking this tour was going to be heart wrenching and sad. Yet, it was full of people pushing themselves to the limit with support from family to stay in the game of life. It was doctors, therapist, nurses and volunteers spending hours upon hours committed to making a difference in the life of those who have come to depend upon and trust them.

We were allowed to watch as a young man was being taught how to cook a meal in a simulated kitchen with all the gadget's that would make it possible for him to be independent. All the things that I take for granted everyday flashed before my eyes. We heard the story of a couple from Nashville who were sitting at a red light after an evening stroll on a scooter. They were just sitting at the light as a car plowed into them killing her and making him a quadriplegic. Just sitting there waiting for the light to change. How courageous is he get up everyday and go through eight hours of intensive therapy. He has given up on life but has decided to try with all his might to get some of what he had back no matter how small.

My feet hurt from the hour and fifty minute tour in my cutiest heels...didn't know it was going to be that long. Even as I teased about needing a leg rub I felt small. How blessed was I to have been on this tour and to have experienced the treasure of the Sheppard Center sitting in my own backyard. I will forever be grateful to my friend Carl Nelson and to Dana Shepherd for sharing this with me. And I am forever a committed donor to the cause.

A heartfelt salute to Harold and Alana Shepherd for your sacrifice and your labor of love. Just imagine God trusted you two with this assignment.
To learn more about the Shepherd Center log on to www.shepherd.org and please feel free to donate.