Never a Greater Hero!
Shauna Ewing. My hero. My friend. My inspiration.
Yesterday Shauna buried her sweet husband of 20 years, Terrell Wayne Ewing Jr. They would have been married 20 years this summer. The funeral was absolutely amazing--but I'll get to that in a minute.
Shauna has faced great trials in the past two decades. Just a few short years after they were married (and two kids later), Terrell discovered he had Huntington's Disease--a wicked disease that affects every part of a person's motor coordination, body movement, mind capacity, etc. It doesn't kick in until early adulthood and slowly holds a body in bondage. Terrell had watched his father and three brothers die of this disease and knew what was in store for him. He never complained--instead he was going to be "the happiest sick person alive." For the first few years, he took care of the children while Shauna worked. During the past 10 years, he lost his ability to walk, talk and function as a normal person. Infact, he basically became a vegetable.
Shauna called me seven years ago and told me she'd just been laid off from her job. We were acquaintances from high school but I hadn't talked to her in years. She said she was impressed to call me--that she knew I'd started some scrapbook business and wondered if I had a job where she could work at home and care for Terrell. When my husband and I met with her, we immediately knew what her position would be. We'd been toying with the idea of starting a foundation to help families in need and Shauna would make the perfect director. (If you've been to CKUs, Shauna was the gal who sold raffle tickets for our foundation.)
Shauna faithfully worked for our foundation for many years while taking care of Terrell night and day. While most people would soon tire of this difficult situation, she took the challenge head on and lovingly became Terrell's nurse, chauffer, nutritionist, physical therapist, cook, mentor, and companion as well as the director for the foundation. She also cared for her two children (who each face the reality of having this disease). Now let me tell you something about Shauna--she is the most cheerful person I know. There were times that she was so cheerful that I'd say: "Why are you so cheerful? You have NOTHING to be cheerful about!" Then she'd remind me that were people way worse off than she is--that she has a wonderful life. Shauna truly learned to live in the sunshine despite the dark clouds.
One time I asked Shauna if it was hard not communicating with Terrell. Her answer is priceless. She said, "We no longer can talk to each other but we communicate better than ever now. We communicated heart to heart."
Yesterday's funeral was so inspiring. I cried like a baby the whole way through. Not because I'm really sad--Terrell is now free from his very imperfect body. I cried when his wife and children spoke--they fought the battle so valiantly. They all talked about the love they had for their husband and father and how much they're going to miss him. They now feel he can take care of them in ways he hasn't been able to in the past 10 years. They have a guardian angel watching over them.
Shauna had this saying written on the program:
"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our eduation, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts and expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God." Orson F. Whitney.
Shauna, Terrell, Melissa, Stephen--I know that God is proud to call you His children. Well done, thou good and faithful servants!
And Terrell, God be with you 'til we meet again. And I'll help keep watch over your beautiful family.
Sincerely,
Your friend,
Lisa B.
