Perhaps it sounds trite to say that health crises produce much needed wake-up calls for those of us who need to make significant lifestyle adjustments. But for many, this is a truism; there’s nothing like awakening in an intensive care unit – surrounded by loved ones and scurrying professionals – to send that compelling and poignant message. Dodging the proverbial health care bullet means that some of us get a second chance, often with a renewed sense of purpose. The poet Maya Angelou once noted, “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a ‘life.’ I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.” We hear similarly wise insights from William Ward.
William Ward, a Barrington, Rhode Island resident, is a retired information technology professional. Ward’s wish, he says, is to live long enough to see his two children, who are in their 20’s, grow into their 40’s, and perhaps beyond.
