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Living gracefully through it all
Those of us who had the privilege to know Wanda Forrest always understood we were watching a rare individual – one who was able to weather the storms multiple sclerosis visited on her with dignity and fortitude.
Likewise, we all recognized the love and devotion displayed by her husband Craig, who was her primary caregiver from the day Wanda’s disease was diagnosed almost 30 years ago until the day she died – last Friday.
Speaking at Wanda’s memorial service Sunday, Tom Massie reminded us all that when Craig promised 32 years ago to love and honor his bride “in sickness and in health,” he meant it – and he proved it daily as graceful Wanda was forced to rely on first a cane, then crutches and finally a wheelchair.
Jack Lunnen remembered Wanda’s optimism and stoicism, pointing out that she never complained or whined no matter what limitations the disease imposed. Instead, she always greeted visitors with a smile, and asked about them, about their families and even about their dogs and cats.
All those who eulogized Wanda shared stories of her indomitable spirit and helped those of us gathered by the river come to terms with her departure from our lives. Two of them – Karen Lunnen and Dona West – also shed light on a facet of Wanda’s life that many of us didn’t know as much about.
A child development specialist, Wanda was hired in 1977 to develop a classroom to serve Jackson County’s neediest school population – children with severe and profound disabilities. These were children without speech, without motor control – kids who had never been served by the public education system.
It had only been two years since Congress passed Public Law 94-142 (Education of All Handicapped Children Act) when Wanda was hired. Now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, that statute required states that received federal funds to develop and implement policies that assure a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities.
Jackson County Schools, which had a classroom for what were then called “trainably mentally handicapped” children, (those who mostly could walk, talk and learn to complete simple tasks) had nothing whatsoever to offer those whose disabilities were more extensive.
That’s where Wanda came in. Organized and knowledgeable, she assessed each one of her students and set goals for them. She saw each one as an individual and determined to do for them exactly what the law said – provide an appropriate education.
“Wanda was a pioneer,” said Dona, who worked with Wanda for two years before earning her special education certification. “She started that program, and it was all about the kids and figuring out what we could do to help them grow.”
Wanda was innovative and figured out ways to give children who had never had any power over their environment a tiny bit of control.
“If she had a child who could only move his head, she’d rig up a switch so that if he lifted his head a light would come on, or music would play, Dona said. “Pretty soon that child would learn that he could make the music play or the light shine whenever he wanted to. Things like that may not seem important to most people, but Wanda’s classroom provided the first bit of independence and control those children ever had.”
That can-do attitude carried over into her own life as she and Craig came to grips with her MS. When Wanda was forced to experience the world from her wheelchair, Craig lowered the counters, sink and stove so she could still cook. They realized that if he built raised beds accessed by brick pathways, she could continue to garden.
Multiple sclerosis, the inflammatory disease that forced Wanda out of the classroom and away from the children she loved, affects the central nervous system. Patches of damage called plaques or lesions appear in seemingly random areas of the brain and spinal chord, making MS hard to characterize because of its unpredictability.
Wanda’s MS was progressive and relentless, and it not only sapped Wanda’s movement and energy, it stole a dynamic educator from students who needed her.
“Wanda did so much to develop a curriculum for those kids who had never been in school before,” Dona said. “Our school system was ahead of neighboring counties in serving that population of students – Wanda’s classroom gave other counties a model to follow.
“Wanda was only 26, but she was determined to get it right and create a program that would last,” Dona said. “And she did. If she hadn’t been disabled by MS, she’d still be right there, finding a way to make sure all children learn everything they possibly can.”
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