Page 26 - Cedarville Magazine Spring 2013 Volume 1 Issue 1

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