Thursday, May 1, 2008

EVEN HEROS FALL


I thought I was going to keep my blog to only my decorating, cake making and party planning but now I've decided to open up a part of my life I don't normally share. But I feel like you guys have become friends and I wanted to let you know why I may not be on line all the time.
Growing up wasn't easy in my household. I had an alcoholic father and there was always upset in my family because of that.
When I was 12 my one brother was killed in a car accident and then three months later my dad died.
My mom turned into an alcoholic herself and hooked up with my step dad who used to treat her like dirt. One day he beat her up pretty badly. She called my oldest brother and he came to her defense. He end up beating my step dad and putting him in the hospital. He moved my mom and me out of the house and away from this evil man. That's when my big brother became my hero. He saved us!
Then my mom ended up going back with my step dad. My brother came over and told my mom it was her choice and he would respect that but to never call him to come to her defense again as he almost killed my step dad and could have ended up in prison for life.
He then looked my step dad in the eyes and said "If you EVER hurt my little sister have no doubt I will kill you!" Once again my hero, my big brother stood up for me.
Because of that talk my step dad never laid a hand on me and I really believe I'm alive today because of my brother, my hero, standing up for me. I love my brother more then words can ever say.

Sadly my hero is now in the hospital. He had a stroke. He is paralyzed on his right side and has a really hard time talking.
Thankfully the stroke did not effect his memory or his intelligence though and he is very positive about getting better. He has a long hard road ahead of him.
It's so heartbreaking to see my strong hero laying in bed fighting for his life. But as long as it takes I will be there for him. I will do everything and anything I can to help him out.
So if I'm gone for awhile it's because my hero, my brother, needs me now to be strong for him. It is now my turn to reach out, take his hand and help save him.
If I could be so bold to ask, I would love for anyone out there to lift him up in prayer. I truly believe that with the grace of God he will get better. Thank you everyone.

Joanne

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, Joanne... My heart is breaking for you... Please know that your hero is in my prayes, as are you. If you ever feel like 'talking' via e-mails, mine appears on my blog and profile... Thinking of you and wishing your hero a very speedy recovery... Donna

{oc cottage} said...

Oh no. I am so sorry! He & you & your whole family will be in our prayers!

M

Debbie Kay said...

Joanne:

Thank you so much for sharing such intimate details of your life. Yes the blog community is such a strong sisterhood of women who are so different and yet so very much alike. I will pray for your dear brother and for you, that God would sustain him and lift you up as you support him.

Love to you,

Debbie Kay

Joanne Kennedy said...

Thank you all so much for your prayers. I know without a doubt that prayers do work. God does hear us.

So thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Joanne

Anonymous said...

Joanne, I'm glad my post made you smile :) Like you, I'm quite fond of mice. When I notice the cats are on 'mouse patrol' I get out my "have a heart" traps. If I catch any, I set them free outside. I used to let them go in our backyard until my husband convinced me that the mice probably made it back into the house even before I did. So now I drive them to a nearby field or woods to let them go! LOL
Thinking of you... Donna

Glenda said...

You have my prayers my dear.
I feel he will make a full recovery. I see it in the stars.
This is just a bump in the road. Never feel that us bloggers haven't had similar stories. We have all had our share of grief and setbacks in our lives. And prayer in group is very strong.
Take care of your hero, and god will take care of the rest.
Well see you when your ready.

Hugs,
Glenda

Flower said...

Joanne, Thank you for saying the kind things you said about my story. The lilies are quite rare in our area, so when many were found,and on that particular day, I knew very clearly that God was giving me a message! I will pray for you and your brother.

bj said...

Oh, dear...I am having a hard time typing thru the tears that are flowing. Please know that I am praying for your hero and for all of you....I so wish there was something I could do to help....
Please keep us informed of how ya'll are doing....
Drinking is such a terrible thing when it is to the point of hurting others. My dad drank too much, too and altho he wasn't a mean drunk at all....in fact, he never laid a hand on my mom....he just spent all the money and she finally got tired of trying to get bills paid and have money for us to eat on...she left him when I was 8 and God sent the most wonderful man in the world to be my mother's husband and my daddy. My story is too long to put here but sometime I may tell you about it in a posting on my blog.....
Love to you, bj

Charlotte said...

This is such a sad story. How great it is to have a brother like yours. He certainly is in my prayers. I'm praying for a speedy and complete recovery.