Angi a healthy baby, just 5 months old.
Angi around 3 years old in 1971.
This was not too long after being diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid
Arthritis. I made this little dress for her. I certainly didn't think
as I dressed her to accompany me to school, as a "homeroom mom" for her
sister and brothers classrooms on picture making day, of her picture being
made as well. The picture is so natural, I am glad I let them make it.
Angi when she was Alabama's Poster Child
for the Alabama Arthritis Foundation.
Angi was truly one of God's greatest gifts to her family. She was always
the sweetest, most loving, caring and unselfish child a parent could ever
have hoped for. Her disease did not in any way take from her the sweetness
that was so extra special to all who knew her.
Angi was only three years old when she was diagnosed with Juvenile
Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) at University of Alabama Hospital in
Birmingham, AL. She was not one of the four out of five children to have
their disease go into remission, instead, hers was one of the more aggressive
documented ones. She suffered daily for 22 1/2 years and never failed to
pray that a cure for this number one crippler among children (250,000) would
be found. All of Angi's joints were affected by JRA and so severely that
joint replacement on both knees and both hips became a necessity. These
surgeries were all done within a three-month period at The Brigham and
Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. Even though the surgeries on these joints
were successful she was unable to walk due to the damage of her feet and
ankles thus, making it necessary to spend most of her life in a motorized
wheelchair. Her motorized wheelchair gave her independence and she remained
as active as the disease would allow her to be. She graduated from high school
and attended night classes at a local junior college. She did volunteer work
in local elementary schools working with slow readers. She worked with a youth
group bible study and with children's worship in her church. Angi was also
very well known for her notes of encouragement to family and friends and always
ending the notes with her signature scripture verse Philippians 4:13 "I can do
all things through Christ who strengthens me".
Angi was such a blessing to our family. She loved her Lord with all her heart
and strived daily to be faithful in serving him. She never questioned
"why me?" but believed God has a plan for each person and expects us to do
our very best.
Angi was my inspiration; my confidant and friend; and my wonderful daughter!
I thank you God for allowing me to be Angi's mom.
Angi keeping the guestbook at a friend's wedding.
Angi was asked to keep the guestbook at many weddings of both friends
and family. I am not sure whose wedding this was, perhaps a friend in
Talladega. I believe she was about 23 years old from my memory of this dress.
Angi ready to "Roll-Tide"
Angi was an avid--no, rabid--Alabama Crimson Tide Football fan. She loved
basketball also. Really, red and white ran through her veins. *S* If it was
Alabama it was wonderful! It didn't matter to her that her sister and one
brother graduated from Auburn University. Alabama was the only university
in the state to her. After one of her surgeries in Boston, she was watching
an Alabama ball game when her blood pressure went out of sight. That set off
an alarm and brought every available doctor and nurse to her room. She
couldn't understand their concern for her--after all, she was watching an
Alabama ball game. The family was sent out of the room; the TV turned off
and we understand her bed was tilted and other procedures done to get her
stable again. She laughed about it later and said if they had been watching
they would have been just as excited.
The first time ever that the University of Alabama played Boston College at
Foxboro Stadium in Boston was the fall Angi was there having her surgeries.
On a Friday afternoon before the Saturday game day there was a knock on
her hospital door and "who else" but one of the University of Alabama
assistant coaches coming through the door to present her a football, sent by
Coach Ray Perkins with each player on the 1983 football team's signature
What a day! This football is cherished today by her dad who is an alumnus
of the University of Alabama.
Angi's doctors gave permission for us to check her out of the hospital for the
afternoon (change of scenery) where she and her mother watched the Crimson Tide
play Boston College from the Howard Johnson Fenway motel--adjoining the famous
Fenway Park Baseball Field. Angi's dad Lance, brothers Rod and Scott and
sister Cece sat through this game in one of the worst blizzards they had ever
seen and, as they tell it, it was the coldest day of their lives. ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
Angi on her 20th birthday.
The following poem is a favorite of mine. I wish to share it here.
SAFELY HOME
I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.
All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely Home in Heaven at last.
Did you wonder I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh! But Jesus' arm to lean on,
Every dark and fearful glade.
And He came Himself to meet me,
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus's arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?
Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
Pray to trust our Father's will.
There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth
You shall rest in Jesus land.
When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting
Oh, the joy to see you come!
Author Unknown
Angi at her sister's wedding, she was 'maid of honor'.
Angi was so pleased that her sister, Cece, asked her to be her Maid-of-Honor
in her wedding. She looked beautiful and went down the aisle just perfectly
with such grace and poise--even backing her chair to just the right spot to
wait for the bride to enter. This picture was made right after the wedding
ceremony on June 25, 1993.
Below is a poem written after Angi's death. It was written by her
UAB Rheumatologist, Dr. Louis Heck's secretary who became very close
to Angi over the years.
A Rose Among Thorns
By: Marie Mays
When I think of Angi
I recall a rose among thorns
Whose fragrance remains today
The thorns of this rosebush
Being the pain of JRA
I also am reminded that life as we know it
Will soon pass away-
But the essence of her being
Will remain forever in our memory
Which nothing will ever stain-
No blemish on our mind's eye
Of a life well lived for sure
And in the flower of her youth
One so noble and so pure
With the beauty of a red, red rose
And a fragrance oh so sweet
She was called to bloom in heaven's own garden
Until once again we meet
On that bright tomorrow when He
Too calls us to meet Him there
The beauty of Angi's presence
Will remain as a fervent prayer.
Yes, a rose will always remain a rose
In God's garden on this earth
And the fragrance left behind
Will remind us of that rose's worth.
This is dedicated to the memory of
Angi Elizabeth Grissett of Talladega, Alabama
1968 - 1994
Angi at a family gathering for Christmas.
This picture was made in her cousin Kim's room, in their home in Troy, AL.
Angi lived a little less than three months after this picture was taken.
Click the 'next' link below to view tributes from other family members.
The link to 'home', is to the main index for Angi's aunt Jean's web site.
Midi playing is Thank You Lord - Medley.
It was downloaded from Douglas Sands Christian Music web site.
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Backgrounds by Aquarius
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