DAWNE GEE
“ THESE PEOPLE SAVED MY LIFE .
THANK YOU ISN ’ T ENOUGH .”
– DAWNE GEE , ON THE NORTON HOSPITAL CARE
TEAM THAT AIDED HER WHEN SHE
HAD A STROKE IN LATE 2016
Gee was rushed to Norton Hospital . A team of physicians , nurses and medical personnel quickly assessed her condition and determined she was having a stroke and part of her brain was being deprived of oxygen-rich blood . ‘ Cheering me on from the sidelines ’ Now six months after her stroke , Gee is surrounded by cheerleaders — and maybe a few babysitters .
“ Bless my family ! They are by my side every step of the way ,” Gee said . “ They not only attend doctors ’ appointments and physical therapy updates , they participate — asking questions and seeking out ways to make life better for me .”
Although her entire family — her children , grandchildren and siblings — have been rocks for her to lean on , Gee acknowledges that it is her mother who perhaps has been her biggest cheerleader through all of her illnesses and life crises .
“ She never left my side ,” Gee recalled , fighting back tears . “ From the emergency room to the intensive care unit and the many weeks of therapy at Frazier Rehab , Momma never left my side .”
Her mother put the time spent with Gee in rehab to good use . She made more than 200 Hershey ’ s Kisses roses , a simple gesture to thank everyone who crossed the threshold of Gee ’ s door to care for her .
“ If they cleaned my room , checked my vitals or brought me a dinner tray , Momma was thanking them with a Hershey ’ s Kisses rose ,” Gee said . “ Both my mother and father are real troopers .”
Her parents also supported Gee while watching her calendar fill up over the past 15 years . She admits that in addition to her work schedule and a full plate of medical worries , she was committing to 200 or more speaking engagements in a year .
“ There were some weekends that I would have four to six events over the course of two days ,” she said . “ Many times Momma and Daddy would go with me to these events , and in hindsight , I think they were watching over me .”
Although she admits to not saying it enough , Gee is learning to say “ no ” to some events and speaking engagements since her stroke .
38 EXTOL • JUNE / JULY 2017