THE CLASSROOM OF LIFE By Phyllis Nicholson
One night after seventeen years of marriage and living the charmed life, the greatest of all challenges happened one night that would forever change my life. My husband, Eddy, had a major brain bleed, a major stroke. After four major strokes, four times to a rehab center, he was left unable to sing and speak. This was his livelihood, a national speaker, and revival leader all his life. We use to say it was like being in prison and never getting out. He loved being a national speaker and now his life was taken away. We did all we could for Eddy, and during this time I truly learned what it was like to be a caregiver, provider, mother, and still minister to others in my church through my position. We did all we could for Eddy for five long years which finally ended in a nursing home. I went to the nursing home two to four times a day to see him and let him know how much we loved him. You see we had a daughter who was only in middle school and needed normalcy in her life. So needless to say there was lots of juggling going on. After five years, Eddy fought the good fight and died with Carolyn and me by his side. Now he was telling jokes in heaven and leading the choir in Amazing Grace. 26
