I Get It!

Crissy,

I agree with Kimberly. How would I know the feeling? My first wife and high school sweetheart, Linda, was an epileptic. And this was back when little was known about it, and those who had it were treated by many as outcasts. I'm talking mid-1960s - 1966 to be exact.

The other school kids had a "nickname" of sorts for her: Roach. Real nice name, isn't it? When they heard we were dating, and that I'd asked her to go to the cast party after our school's musical that Saturday, one of them said to me, "I hear you're going to the cast party with Roach." I just looked him in the eye, kept my head high and said, "Yeah, I am. What about it?" He just walked away. I went on to my next class.

Linda and I were married two years later, on Friday, August 16, 1968, both of us 19. I learned quickly how to take care of her during and after seizures. And thank the Lord I was eventually able to prove to her that her seizures would never drive me away. Ever. That fear had still deeply worried her for a number of years even after our wedding. But I was finally able to conquer it. We had 11 1/2 wonderful years together before a seizure in our bathroom one night took her from me forever. I don't regret one minute of giving my life to her. I still get warm feelings inside knowing that I made her dream of finding a loving husband a reality.

Kimberly's right. Stand by your brother, and be proud of what you're doing. You will always be thankful that you did, no matter what the future brings. And that warm, fuzzy feeling you'll have inside knowing you did your best for him will give you a peace of mind only a select few of us can fully appreciate.

All the best for years to come,
Jim - aka Incurable Romantic