I was so nervous. I didn’t know why; I had preached before. But this was the first time in front of my home church, the Edwardsburg Seventh-day Adventist Church in Michigan. Why was I an emotional basket case? I was so nervous when I was getting ready that morning that it was hard for me to even tie my tie, something I had done since I was a young boy. My gait was off as I walked, and during my sermon, I found it hard to find my words.

It was not until that Sunday that I finally put the pieces of the symptom puzzle together. “Honey, I think I might be having symptoms of a stroke.” 

“Why do you say that?” she asked.

“Well, I have left-side weakness, my fine motor skills are not working properly, and it is hard to talk or swallow.”

August 24, 2024, was my catalyst for change, an unexpected stroke that could have taken my life. Sunday afternoon, August 25, I walked into the emergency room and told the attendant that I thought I was having symptoms of a stroke. And, oh my, they were Johnny-on-the-spot! I didn’t even get to sit down. I was whisked to the back, where nurses and doctors triaged me to assess if the stroke was still active. I was admitted to Niles Hospital with a stroke, where I remained for the next three days.

This experience taught me that when it comes to estate and end-of-life documents, you shouldn’t wait but always be in a state of readiness. My life-changing event was physical: a stroke. No matter your catalyst, your wake-up call, act now! You never know when something might happen to stop your wishes from coming to fruition. Do not hesitate to act. Put your will and affairs in the perfect will of God to help save the unreached.

For assistance with your estate needs, please contact James Petty, CSPG, at 269-473-5001 or by email at jpetty@AFMonline.org.

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