Let's Help Terry Spruill

In the Spring of 1985, my Uncle Terry Spruill suffered a massive stroke that paralyzed his right arm and leg, damaged his right eye, and severely limited his ability to speak.  While no one would have blamed him for giving in to these seemingly overwhelming challenges, he refused. A few weeks after the stroke, Terry moved in with my family  and began rehab.   While the damage was too severe to restore much function to his right side, he learned to manage it.  He learned to write with his left hand.  He learned to communicate in non-verbal ways.  He worked through the challenges.  Later that year, Terry took a job as the chief mechanic of my Dad’s trucking company.  While Terry’s body had extreme limitations, his mind was as sharp as ever.  Just like before the stroke, he could literally fix anything.  

Terry later moved back to his childhood home in Mississippi to be close to his children and grandchildren.  Terry has continued to work as an electrician and has provided services to many in that community for years.  When Terry had the stroke, he was in his mid-thirties.  So, for 30 years, he has been answering the call and showing up in spite of his overwhelming physical challenges.

Since Terry could only carry his body weight on his left leg, he has totally deteriorated that knee joint.  The doctors say that it is now “bone on bone”.  About three weeks ago, while helping a neighbor with an A/C problem, he lost his balance due to the instability in his knee, fell and hit his head.  The concussion was severe and caused a brain bleed.  He was flown by helicopter to a trauma center in Jackson, MS.  Luckily, the brain injury was not as severe as previously thought and he was released a couple days later.

Terry wants to keep working and supporting himself but he desperately needs knee replacement surgery on his left leg and cataract surgery on his  one "good" eye.  Insurance will cover most of the cost of the surgeries, but he will be off work for three months to recover.  Many of my friends and family know Terry and know what an inspiration his example has been to those around him.  Terry needs $5,000 to buy some recovery time ...  Let's give it to him.