o All Who Read These Pages,

I offer to you my mother's inspirations, which have shown me the way to live. Her words are warnings against self-pity and for courage. The first is called "Poor Lady - No Legs", written about my mother by my father. The second is a story my mother wrote,
sitting in a wheelchair with no legs due to a double amputation because her diabetes ran rampant and destroyed the circulation in
her legs. The third is a poem my father wrote when his miniture poodle, Corky, died from multiple seizures. He loved that little dog.
These are offered in love. My parents were Christian. I am not, but love is universal and can overcome so much.

Love,

Michele


"Poor Lady - No Legs"

Look, I  know you mean well, but I really don't want to hear it.
Sing me no sad songs, oh no! Not to me!
And would you drop "poor lady" because I'm as rich as I can be.
I'm rich in church and in family.
With a helping purpose and a plan,
I'll survive and flourish in any way I can.
I've no time for sadness in this active world of today.

I've got so much living and promises to fulfill.
I may not have time enough to reach to all those that I will,
But I'll be out there trying as long as I'm alive
Realizing it will take conviction as well as courage to survive.

Foremost, please remember I have the support of Jesus 
Who accepts me as I am 
And makes me free to become all I truly want to be.
And a church who lets you know in so many ways that
I belong to a family of love.
A church that shows our Lord's touch, that moves this congregation
from above.

So be thankful and happy for me.
Sing no dirges or funeral chants because I'm alive and well, you see.
I hope my list of friends includes you, whoever you may be.
True - I have lost my legs,
but I've gained something more costly than gold
Because my Savior has given me my immortal soul.

Written by James Graves for his wife, Lorraine.

***********************************************************


"A Lighthouse In The Storm"

Reading this title, I imagine you're thinking that this story will be
about a severe storm with a lighthouse guiding the ships away from
danger. It is not. The lighthouse is a human, the author, and the
storm is life. I have had a lot happen to me but nothing to compare
with the true story I am about to relate to you.

It started some years ago, when I started have pains in my legs which
steadily grew worse as the years progressed. It became impossible to
walk five steps without having to sit down until the pain subsided.
Eventually, hospital equipment was brought into the apartment starting
with a hospital bed. An appointment with the doctor confirmed the
fact that my purple legs were not receiving any blood so I was put
into the hospital the day after the doctor's visit and the following
day, my right let was amputated above the knee. The doctor tried to
re-route the blood to the left leg but having no luck, the left leg
was amputated two weeks later.

I was in the hospital a total of one month when a representative from
the Rehabilitation Hospital came to see me. She said my doctor had
recommended that they look into my situation, which she did, said I
was a prime candidate for the Rehab and asked if I'd like to go there.
Things happened so fast that I didn't have time to think and before I
knew it, I was being transported from one hospital to the other.
Having found out that they could help me, I would have been a fool not
to accept their invitation. The evening of the day I arrived, the
doctor (also the Medical Director) came to see me in my room and I
told him that they were not going to wheel me out in a wheelchair -
that I was going to go through those front door WALKING and by the
time they were through working with me, I would make them proud of me.
At this moment, I am writing this from the Rehab and am about to be
fitted for my first artificial limbs.

I know the inspiration I felt and still feel could only come from God
and I thank Him daily. I know it sounds funny to say you thank God
for having your legs cut off, but I think there was a hidden meaning
in what happened to me. I was shown how to make other people happy.

Quite a few elderly patients are here in this hospital which,
incidentally, does not have a hospital atmosphere at all. Brightly
pained walls with colorful curtains, nurses wearing white pants and
bright sweaters, blouses and smocks. But to get back to the patients;
I know when I arrived here I was scared (though I didn't show it). I
asked myself, "What are they going to do with me? Will it hurt? How
long will it take?" I was full of unanswered questions. But, as time
went on, I thrived under the watchful eyes of the therapists and the
loving care of the nurses. I became peaceful in body, mind, and
spirit. I thought, "If you can do this with yourself, who not to try
it with others?" That is when I stopped to ask God, "Is this what you
had in mind for me?" I got my answer the next day when I saw new
people coming in, frightened, scared and depressed. It was as if God
were pushing me toward them and not realizing the words coming out of
MY mouth, I heard myself greeting them, talking to them, and allaying
their fears. As each day went by, it became easier and easier to talk
and laugh with them. Yes, laugh! I guess my efforts were rewarded
because they didn't seem scared anymore. Encouragement and assurance
was what they needed and I gave it to them. I guess I made myself the
"Lighthouse" in their troubled storm of lives. As each one left the
hospital, able to walk again or use their hands and arms from having a
stroke or a broken hip, they all told me what an inspiration I had
been to them because when they first came to the Rehab, they were full
of self-pity and ready to give up. Then they saw legless me wheeling
herself happily down the hall in my wheelchair, a big smile on my
face, greeting everyone I met with a cheery "Hello! How are you
today? I watched you in therapy yesterday and you're doing wonderful!
Keep up the good work and you'll be home in no time!" Or the black
man with the amputated legs who just wanted to give up and I told him
"We are going to WALK out that front door together!" Now when we meet
coming down the hall, he raises his arm up and yells "together!" and
smiles. I wonder if these people know how precious they are to me and
how wonderful it makes me feel to see a smile on their faces and a
light in their eyes, like the Lighthouse. I only hope I have helped
to alleviate the turmoil in the storm of their lives. If so, I have
done the Will of God and know that's why I was put in this position.

I do not consider my amputations a handicap. I consider them just
another obstacle God has put in my path for me to overcome and I
think I'm succeeding. The storm in my life is over and I am at peace.
And this peace is what I wish to pass on to these wonderful people,
both hospital staff and patients alike. Not even knowing they were
doing it, they gave me the peace I feel today just by letting me be
their friend. I shall always remember each and every one of them.

Lorraine F. Graves
Mother of Michele Goff, one very proud daughter.

PERSONAL NOTE FROM MICHELE: For whatever reason, Mama
wasn't able to walk out of the Rehab Hospital. She couldn't tolerate
her artificial legs, but that didn't stop her from volunteering at
that same hospital as a sort of "Welcome Wagon Lady". She helped
so many others. That black man DID walk out the front doors, leaving
Mama behind, but that never bothered her. My mom was such a true
heroine to so many people, including me. She was and always has
been MY "Lighthouse In The Storm". My gods, she helped me so much
and I miss her today, but I know that if I become 1/2 the woman my
Mama was, 1/2 the inspiration she was, then she will be proud of me
and that is all I ever wanted out of life.

Love,

Michele

************************************************************************

"FAREWELL"

My Big Dog, tiny warrior, 18 pounds all soaking wet.
Your body's buried beneath a stone, but your spirit I'll never forget.
Sometimes I think I see a glimpse of you
Behind our house or in the wood.
And as I hurry closer, I can't see you, and I guess I never could!
As time slowly passes, I hope the pain and hurt will dim
And finally all that I can see is my own special dog
A perfect memory!

No longer can I hold you close for your life is through.
On lonely nights it hurts so much I just don't know what to do!
Often I see you running but only through the meadows of my mind
Proud elusive blur, with a piercing bark
That warm and loyal poodle is my own Special "Cork"!
Don't lose heart, O best friend, I have a friend, an angel from above.
I prayed to John Paul to watch over you till I come
And when my time is over, I'll accept it with a smile with never a tearful cry.

And I'll soar up and we are together in the sweet by and by
As treasured friends, we'll run and play
In the vineyards of our Lord!

Corky
Sept. 26, 1984 - Dec. 18, 1989

"A Man's Best Friend"

By: James W. Graves