Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2013

26 | Cedarville Magazine The week was filled with details — assembling goodie bags, picking up signs, and marking the course. Most nights I would lay awake making mental lists and then wake up early, unable to contain my thoughts. That morning, I was up at 3 a.m. The coffee on, I spent some moments in prayer, dedicating the day and the event to God’s glory. I pulled out pictures of Mom and did a lot of remembering. I savored those quiet moments before the chaos of the day kicked in. Never one for the limelight, she would probably roll her eyes at the attention, but she would love what we are doing. Around 4:30 a.m., I packed last minute items in the car. The rest of the house began to stir at 5 a.m., and by 6 a.m., we were out the door. I made a quick stop at Dad’s to share a hug, and then it was off to the park to watch the day unfold in special ways. Mom’s Cancer Losing my mom to cancer in 2011 was the hardest thing I have ever faced. Linda (Nelson) Ferguson ’71 was full of life with a laugh that was contagious. She studied elementary education at Cedarville, and she met my dad, Roger, on a blind date to a Jackets basketball game. He was a farmer in town — a descendant of John Bickett, Cedarville’s very first graduate. Mom and Dad married and raised four children on the farm. They set an inspiring example of working hard, loving people, and turning difficult circumstances into opportunities to help others. Even while going through cancer, Mom’s faith was strong. I understand why so many people give up when faced with bad news after bad news, but she kept fighting till the very end. November 5, 2010, was the turning point. Although she’d been fine the night before, she woke up that day unable to speak or write, and the MRI showed three new tumors in her brain. Even in that moment, Mom was smiling and comforting us. Mom’s Care With the help of treatments and therapists, she regained her speech. We were struck by the many different kinds of nurses who cared for her, all with distinct knowledge and experience in their specialties — from those who took her routine vitals to the oncology and physical therapy nurses.Their compassion for my mom and the way they involved us as a family in her care meant so much to us. One of those nurses was Judi Shrubsole, Mom’s good friend from church and then a nursing professor at Cedarville. Mom On Saturday, October 13, 2012, we held the second annual Linda A. Ferguson Memorial 5K, carrying on my mom’s legacy of helping others by using the funds we raised for a scholarship in her memory. by Rachael McKinney as told to Carol Lee ’96 A Gift to Remember