Chippewa Valley 5ive for Women The Chippewa Valley’s Premier Magazine for Women!
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As I write this, “Summertime and the livin’ is easy” plays in my head. I love summer!
The Theisen household welcomes the sweet, slowed-down pace of summer with arms wide open. June is for graduations and weddings, and we get to celebrate both. Our eldest, Joe, graduated from college—w
e are beaming with pride and it’s a joy to watch him go! We’re also ecstatic to see our sister move into a new and exciting season as she marries her best friend.
It may be summer, but the livin’ isn’t always easy for everyone. Yet, Angela Meyer would never let you know despite her exceptional challenges. I had the honor of meeting Angela several weeks ago at the nail salon as Sacred Heart staff assisted her visit. This encounter with such a neat lady reminded me what courage looks like and what hope sounds like. These qualities beamed out of her. She was radiant—her smile contagious. Because Angela is wheelchair -enabled, I initially envisioned the cause to be a horrific accident. However, as we began to chat, I learned early -onset multiple sclerosis (MS) is the culprit. I discovered she is a loving wife and mother who desperately missed her little one at home and who received an MS diagnosis when she was 32. Still, she smiles.
As we continued to gab, I became more and more impressed with her ability to move with dignity and grace through life, marriage, motherhood, and even a life -altering diagnosis. I just knew we needed to share her story to encourage and educate the ladies of the Chippewa Valley. She, too, was eager to share how MS changes lives, how its progression and severity vary dramatically from person to person, and how she chooses to live (and not just survive) with MS.
Since our meeting, I have thought of Angela every day. Today, I had the opportunity to speak with her again and found myself better for it. She rode her horse today, and that made it a good day for her. It also made me smile. I know you’ll be inspired by Angela’s story. MS may have affected the strength of Angela’s arms and legs, but clearly it couldn’t touch the mightiness of her soul.
Summer is the perfect time to make new friends, nurture long standing rapports, and make memories with family. The more relaxed pace lets us enjoy a leisurely read, whip up a new recipe, start a new fitness plan, or try a new adventure. We’re confident this issue will give you plenty of ideas! So many great activities are happening throughout the Chippewa Valley—we look forward to seeing you out and about. A grateful shout out to my husband this Father’s Day: You’re an amazing dad to our crew; I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to do it without you!
Ladies, the journey continues with faith, family, friends, fitness, and finance.
– Jen Theisen
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
