To Inspire or Be Inspired. Help for Terry Sheets.

This fundraiser is for an inspirational person who is more important than he realizes. Terry Sheets came to see me three years ago with desperation in his heart and just not feeling well. There was pain, weight, limited mobility, constant fatigue and a desire to quit. We met. We talked. We made a plan. A plan to evaluate health from a different perspective. A plan to evaluate function from a different perspective. A plan to redefine aging and “getting old”. There was no need to retire, to quit, to give up, to suffer. In three years Terry has met so many goals! He lost the 70 extra pounds. He started lifting weights. He went back to work full time with the first bit of energy he had seen in years. He fell in love again. Remarried and continued to preach God’s word. What Terry has also done, but may not realize, is that he has inspired others. He’s been a life coach, a problem solver, a listening ear, a supporter, a cheer leader, and more. He not only inspires, he educates, supports, helps, values, reminds, dedicates, and shows up daily in people’s lives.

Why we need help is that Terry’s recent days have been met with challenge after challenge. It started with a suspected pneumonia. Then followed by an irregular heart beat that required being shocked to stabilize. Then the most severe indescribable pain Terry had ever experienced. Even my years of health and guidance couldn’t fathom the horrific cause. Terry became septic (infection throughout his blood stream) rapidly and the infection settled into his spinal column. In his spine the infection created an abscess, putting pressure on the nerves, thereby cutting off function of those nerves from the waist down. Not only was the infection in the thoracic spine (chest), it was spreading to the lumbar also (lower back).

Terry immediately went into surgery to remove what infection they could. Along with lots of medication. However, the infection already started eating the bone of the spinal column.

For a few days, Terry was getting better. But as he progressed in an attempt to rehab, the spine collapsed on itself, again cutting off nerve function from the waist down.

This time surgery was after an air flight to a larger hospital. And resulted in the spine being stabilized with hardware.

While Terry is still recovering, his legs remain numb and function is limited.

What inspires me most when I visit Terry, is his outlook. That this is happening. And while it’s not pleasant, instead of griping and complaining, he has made it a point to make his support staff: nurses, caretakers, and providers, smile. They feel heard. They listen to his wisdom. They get a different perspective on their own problems and views. Not in a pushy way, but in a way of reflection and opening of our eyes. In the midst or horror, Terry is redefining his purpose.

While Terry has a long road ahead of him, and we support him the best we can, the rehabilitation that he needs, requires a $15000 deposit to even start working with him. This is what these funds are for. To help Terry and his wife pay for medical expenses, adapt their home as needed for mobilization. And to continue to be a positive impact on others lives.