by BobA. Troutt
*****
Still Wind, Forgotten Days
Stolen Heart
There’s a time for all seasons. One Sunday morning as the old church bells rang out across the small town of Muddy Run in Giles County, Tennessee, Lori and her dad, Robert Brown, and her mother, Sue, and a lot of others were sitting in church. Arlean, Lori’s best friend sat beside her. After the service, Lori, her parents and Arlean went home for a big Sunday dinner to relax and enjoy the Lord’s Day.
Robert was two years older than Sue. They had attended high school together but didn’t see much of each other after he graduated. About a year after he graduated, they met again at a party and started dating which led to marriage. Soon after, they had Lori, their only child.
Muddy Run was a small community located in the southern part of Tennessee; it was sort of a laid back town. Nothing much ever happened in Muddy Run. It was one of those towns where everyone knew each other. It wasn’t a perfect paradise like some thought. But, it was the home of several good people.
The war in Vietnam had finally ended and the U.S. troops had pulled out and were headed home. The war, the civil rights movement, college protests, women’s lib and the British invasion helped turn the world in a different direction.
Lori was in her junior year at J.B. Cribb’s High School when she started dating Lanny Sullivan, a senior. They had dated a while before she got pregnant and both of their lives changed drastically when they found out she was pregnant, especially Lori’s. Lord dropped out of high school her junior year but Lanny wanted to go on to college. It was a hard time for not only Lanny and Lori but their parents as well. Lanny’s parents suggested that Lori get an abortion or go to a place for unwed mothers, have the baby and then give it up for adoption. However, their suggestion didn’t set well with Robert and Sue. They suggested that Lanny should go on to college and they would help Lori take care of the baby and when Lanny was home on weekends he could visit Lori and the baby at their house. And if things worked out after Lanny graduated college, he and Lori could get married and become a family. Of course, Lanny and his parents didn’t like Robert’s and Sue’s suggestion. Soon after, when they couldn’t reach an agreement, Lanny and Lori stopped seeing each other. Lanny went on to college and Lori stayed home with her parents. Arlean, Lori’s best friend, was also there for her. A few months later, Lori gave birth to a baby girl; she named her Jo Meagan. From the day Jo Meagan was born, Robert gave her roses on her birthday. On her first birthday, he gave her one rose and added a rose each year of her birthday until she turned twelve. On her twelfth birthday and thereafter, he always sent her a dozen of roses. Jo Meagan lived with her grandparents most of her young life; she was very attached to them. Her daddy, Lanny, finished college, got married and moved away. Her mother, Lori, got her GED, married and had four more children, three boys and another girl. Arlean went on to graduate high school, got married and moved away. She and Lori kept in touch for a few years but eventually drifted apart even though they remained best friends. The last time they saw each other was at Arlean’s high school graduation.
Jo Meagan grew up to be a fine young girl. She made a lot of friends in school and her friends nicknamed her Granny because she ran like an old woman. Like all other girls in junior high school, she had pajama parties, went to dances and played softball and basketball. She had plenty of boyfriends, dates and breakups. Her grandfather, Papa as she called him, always stayed on to her about keeping her room clean. She was so messy and her room always looked like a tornado had hit it. Her clothes were always on the floor, she never made up the bed and she had shoes everywhere. Her Papa just couldn’t understand how she could live in that mess. But, apparently that’s how children were in that day and time. Jo Meagan entered a school talent contest when she was in the sixth grade and won. She impersonated Minnie Pearl which everyone enjoyed. She was a typical young girl who loved to laugh, eat and hangout with her friends. Plus, she was active in church. When she got older, she did mission work at home and overseas. She even spent one summer in India and did mission work. She was a good student, popular and well-liked by many. Still, Papa couldn’t accept the fact Lori was growing up and becoming a woman. He wanted her to stay a little girl forever. During Lori’s high school years, she played on the high school softball team. Softball was her favorite sport and she was one of the best to ever play for the school. Her high school softball coach, Coach Johnny Ward, had his eye on her ever since she played in the eighth grade. He knew she had the potential to not only play at the high school level but the college level as well and would be a good candidate for the Olympic team.
“She is good, very good,” said Coach Dewy Pool, Coach Johnny’s assistant, one day in practice.
“She definitely has great potential but she needs to work on a few things,” replied Coach Johnny.
Jo Meagan was still a little rough around the edges in some areas of the game. However, Coach Johnny believed he could make a pro out of her and Dewy agreed. They knew a player like Jo Meagan only came through once in a lifetime. Jo Meagan was a dual threat on the field. She had one of the fastest softball pitches Coach Johnny had ever seen and she was also one of the best shortstops around.
Jo Meagan always tried her best in everything she did. She made good grades; her favorite subjects were literature and English. She loved to read in her spare time. Dickerson, Poe and Twain were a few of her favorite writers. She also loved the music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
Jo Meagan’s freshman year of high school softball was a molding and shaping year for her. Coach Johnny and Coach Dewy worked with her to smooth out her rough edges to polish her skills and ability. By the end of the season, she helped the team reach the state finals; they won the state championship that year. Lori was proud of herself and so was her mother, grandparents and everyone in Muddy Run. Her dad was proud also even though he didn’t get to see her play very much since he no longer lived in Muddy Run. Her sophomore year, she continued breaking records. She held the record for most strikeouts and pitched more no-hitters in one season than any player in the state. Again, she helped the team reach the state finals; they won their second straight state championship. Word of how good she was had gotten out and traveled fast. During her junior year, everyone came to see her play. She had become Muddy Run’s little sweetheart and she had stolen the hearts of everyone who saw her play. College scouts from all across the country had their eye on her. Three colleges had already offered her a full-ride scholarship. McPherson State University in McPherson, Georgia, Holland University in Holland, Mississippi and Bentley College in Taylor, Tennessee waited nervously to see which college she would choose to continue her softball career and receive her college education.
She may have gotten the world’s attention but Muddy Run would always be home. Muddy Run was proud of her. She was so gifted and athletic. She had graced front sport pages of nearly every newspaper in Tennessee and the surrounding area.
Unexpectedly, during the summer before her senior year, Jo Meagan was stricken by a mysterious illness. She was admitted to the Oak Hill Medical Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee where than ran tests to see what was causing her sickness. Her parents, grandparents and the people of Muddy Run prayed and waited for her diagnosis. Within a few days, the tests results came back negative. Jo Meagan was feeling much better and since all the tests were negative, she was dismissed from the hospital. A couple of weeks later, she was back on her feet and appeared to be better than ever.
Summer soon passed and Jo Meagan entered her senior year of high school. She was anxious to play ball and graduate. The people of Muddy Run wondered if she would be able to lead the team to another state championship since she had been so sick during the summer. Although her illness that summer had taken away some of her spunk, Jo Meagan was determined to be more competitive than ever. The crowds cheered her on as game after game of her senior year resulted in vic
tory. However, everyone could tell she still wasn’t the old Jo Meagan. During the bottom of the last inning of the regular season, the score was three to two with two outs and no one on base. Coach Johnny called a timeout and asked her if she wanted him to send in a relief pitcher because he could tell something was wrong with her. But, she told him no.
“I haven’t come this far to give up now,” she said.
“I know but your health is more important,” replied Coach Johnny.
“You’re right, coach, but I’m fine. I got this,” she stated.
“Well, get back out there and strike them out,” Coach Johnny instructed.
Joe Meagan walked the next three batters. The bases were loaded and there was only one out left between them and the state tournament. Jo Meagan bowed her head in a moment of prayer before she threw the next pitch. She lifted her head, gripped the ball, wound up and threw it with all her might. The ball zoomed across home plate.
“Strike one,” called the umpire.
Silence fell across the field as she threw the next pitch.
“Ball one,” cried the umpire.
“Lord, I can’t do it alone. I need you,” she said as she looked up at the sky with tears in her eyes.
She gripped the ball again and let it fly across home plate. The batter swung with all her might.
“Strike two,” yelled the umpire.
“Jo, Jo, Jo, Jo, Jo, Jo,” chanted the crowd.
As she wound up again, the crowd and all the players were tense. She let the ball go. It sailed out of her hand and went straight across home plate.
“Strike three, you’re out,” cried out the umpire after the batter swung.
The team and crowd erupted with cheers. J.B. Cribbs was headed back to the state tournament. The crowd ran out onto the field. There was a lot of cheering, laughing and crying going on.
“That’s the way to play ball, girls,” Coach Johnny said. “I’m so proud of all of you. Tomorrow we’ll start preparing to win our third straight state championship.”
The next day, Coach Johnny talked with Jo Meagan and her mother to see if she would be well enough to play in the state tournament. He didn’t want her to make her condition worse by playing in the tournament; winning a third state championship wasn’t anywhere near as important as her health. Jo Meagan refused to sit out of the tournament. Her mother agreed to let her play in the tournament as long as she agreed to come out of the game if she felt sick. But, they told her if her condition worsened during the next two weeks of practicing, she would have to sit out of the game. Jo Meagan was elated and so were Coach Johnny and the team. After two weeks of grueling practices, they played the first game of the tournament and won easily. Jo Meagan pitched an amazing game. The second and third games were a little more challenging than the first but they won and once again they played for the state championship. Jo Meagan pitched a perfect game and they won a third straight softball state championship for J.B. Cribbs High School.
Jo Meagan’s senior year was her most memorable year of high school. She was the class valedictorian and accepted a scholarship to attend McPherson State University in McPherson, Georgia to play softball for the Georgia Hawks. It took Jo Meagan a while to adjust to college life because it was a little different than high school. Health wise, she was a little more tired than usual but otherwise she was doing well. Academically, Jo Meagan did well in her first year. And athletically, she helped lead the softball team to its first region tournament appearance in ten years. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it to the national championship.
Even though Jo Meagan appeared to be doing well, her mother and grandparents noticed a change in her. During her summer break, they took her to the doctor and he ordered some more tests for her but those tests came back negative just like the ones before. Jo Meagan entered her second year of college. Her pitching was not as strong so the coach took her off the mound and played her at shortstop. However, playing shortstop was harder on her than pitching. Having to squat down for long periods of time caused her legs to hurt so badly. About halfway through her second year, her mother took her back to Oak Hill Medical Center to see a specialist. He ran some more tests on her. It took a week for the tests results to come back and it wasn’t good news. The tests came back conclusive that she had a painful and crippling rare bone disease; it was similar to polio. The odds of people having the disease were 130 in 10,000. The doctors believed she was born with it. It was proven by research, theory and scientists to be caused by a genetic breakdown in the brain. The name of the disease was paralipolio or PPV. It was a rare condition and was very uncommon in children. Jo Meagan just happened to be one of the unfortunate ones. There were four stages to the disease and Jo Meagan was already in the second stage. Symptoms for the first stage included tiredness, fatigue, loss of balance, blurred vision, slurred speech, nose bleeds and swelling of the joints. The second stage symptoms included leg aches and the legs and arms turned inward. In the third stage the person suffers paralysis and is bedridden. In the fourth stage they are basically a vegetable; the liver and kidneys fail and finally the heart swells and burst resulting in death. The life expectancy for a person after diagnosis was normally two to three years. There was no cure for the disease.
Jo Meagan’s diagnosis of PPV was devastating not only to her but her parents and grandparents as well. Jo Meagan had to drop out of college. She and her family questioned the Lord and asked why her when she was doing so well. At first, they resented the Lord and rebelled against Him. They soon realized it was nothing but the devil making them bitter toward God. However, in the Lord’s mysterious ways, He gave them something to hold on to which gave them a little peace of mind. Their church family prayed for them and so did so many others. One Sunday, when Jo Meagan was well enough to attend church, the preacher’s sermon touched them in a special way.
“The Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach to the city. Instead, Jonah went the other way,” he preached. “The Lord brought a storm upon them at sea and Jonah was thrown over into the sea. Do you recall what happened when Jesus and the disciples were in the boat crossing the sea to go to the other side?” he asked. “Jesus went to sleep and when the storm arose, the disciples ran to Jesus and cried out to Him. Jesus got up, calmed the sea and winds,” he stated. “Jonah was disobedient and the disciples were obedient. So that tells me that in this life we are all going to have troubles regardless of what we do. In this life we will always have troubles and hard times. However, if we believe, the Lord will work it out,” he said as he ended his sermon.
After that sermon, their attitudes changed. Yes, it was still very difficult for them but they no longer blamed God. The next couple of years were hard on Jo Meagan and her family. They didn’t completely understand it all but they had put it all in the Lord’s hands; there was nothing left for them to do but trust in the Lord. Although the disease was very hard on Jo Meagan, she stayed in good spirits. She had good and bad days. Her family didn’t know if they could stand to see her as a vegetable. They prayed for the Lord to take her on if she could not be healed before she reached the fourth stage. They believed the Lord knew what was best for Jo Meagan.
As time passed, Jo Meagan’s family watched her health deteriorate as she entered the third stage. They never completely gave up hope because Jo Meagan was a fighter. She may have been weak and humble but she still kept the faith that somehow, someway she might be well again. Her determining spirit and faith encouraged the hearts of her family and others around her. Even during her horrible sickness, she stole the hearts of many and set an example for others. Her arms and legs had already turned inward. She was paralyzed, bedridden and had to be fed through a straw. Her family dreaded what was coming next, the fourth stage. To help with her pain, the doctors upped her morphine and told her family she could have it whenever she needed it. They tried to keep her as comfortable as they could. When Jo Meagan’s skin tur
ned yellow and her family knew the end was near. Her liver was failing and she had to wear a bag on her side because her kidneys had started to fail. It was devastating for her family to see her like that because she was always energetic, happy and loved life. The thoughts of how she used to be made things worse for everyone. Why, God was on the hearts of her family and friends. It had been a long struggle for all of them, especially Jo Meagan.
Early one night, the Lord took Jo Meagan home. It was hard for her family to let her go but they knew her memory would live on in the hearts of her family, friends and fans. The family took care of her arrangements and wanted something nice for her since she was a special and gifted child. Her parents arranged with the school principal to have her funeral at the school softball field because of her love for the sport. Her closed casket was placed behind the pitcher’s mound where she had stood so many times before. On top of her casket was a wreath of her favorite flowers, roses and mums. A bat, glove and softball lay on the pitcher’s mound along with her picture and her #29 jersey. Coach Johnny, Coach Dewy and her old teammates sat on the side of the mound facing the preacher. They played her favorite songs as the stands filled with her family, friends and fans. There were even people standing around the fence at home plate. As the preacher spoke, tears filled the eyes of everyone in attendance. After the ceremony, she was laid to rest in the cemetery. Her Papa had a headstone made for her grave; it was engraved with her name, date of birth and the date of her death. A softball, bat and glove were also engraved with the words, We Love You, Jo Meagan, Rest in Peace. Her grave was covered with many kinds of flowers.
There is a time for all seasons – a time to live and a time to die.
