Roxanne Ferner: a life well lived...
- Dave Chouhan
- May 7
- 3 min read
Hey everyone,
A different post from my usual, but overdue:
Roxanne is Denise's first cousin, who passed last month. I wanted to honour her with a post then, but Life is always so busy. When I saw her Mom and Dad (Uncle Henry and Aunt Nettie) again last week at another aunt/uncle's 75th wedding anniversary (yes, you read that right,) I knew I had to prioritize sharing these thoughts when I got home.
Life will always be a whirlwind, but sometimes it is prudent to set aside other things, including work, and MAKE TIME for what truly matters.
(Incidentally, Rox's whole family is composed of some beautiful spirits; Her parents, sisters Gwen & Corinne and their significant others, Kevin and Darrell are all gentle, kind, loving people who actually WALK the Christian walk, and I love them all.)
For those who don't know, Roxanne was the recipient of Four organ transplants over the years! For at least 25 years that I know of, she was on anti-rejection medications, and often enduring gruelling hospital and in-home dialysis sessions.
Despite these immense challenges, what STOOD OUT to me about Roxanne was her indomitable Spirit and Faith!
She NEVER complained.
In fact, quite the opposite; she was generally very cheerful, compassionate to others, and chose not to focus on herself.
She also never surrendered to her health challenges. Rather, when her health permitted, she lived life to the fullest, exploring many things, with numerous interests, hobbies and activities.
She was a gifted painter and photographer! She made beautiful scrapbooks. In fact, she was super-talented in all artistic things, even helping with her Church "Bell choir."
What I didn't know, until her funeral, was how many other lives she had impacted.
She was a great aide to her sister, ministering to people with disabilities at Centre Street Church in Calgary.
She was a huge advocate for AHS Organ Donations. She supported many other organ recipients. At her funeral, I witnessed Many people from all ages and all walks of life pay their respects. Even some of her physicians and surgeons came, I'd say, because of WHO she was.
Roxanne has always been an inspiration to me.🥰
After my devastating 2007 car accident, there were times I was tired of the constant agonizing pain and just wanted it to end. But Rox was one of the people I looked at and told myself, "If she can do it, so can I." Denise and I both feel that way, regardless of health issues, and we live our lives that way. We'd rather focus on blessing others than sit there whining about our own challenges.
In the last two weeks, we've had a few friends in our circle lose family members, in some cases unexpectedly. Others are dealing with life-threatening illnesses.
In each case, I am reminded of the Brevity of Life, that none of us is guaranteed another second on this plane of existence. Since my wreck, I have lived daily with that thought firmly embedded in my mind.
It has changed who I am. My priorities are different.
I am more serious about some things (like finances, and the book business) and more happy-go-lucky about others (like taking risks in public judgment," singing specials in church, and dressing up/acting as Captain CHOO to read to/entertain kids.)
I "chalk-it-up" to: When you become keenly aware of your mortality, you become less fearful/concerned about other people's opinions of how you choose to live (as long as it's still honourably.)
I am far from perfect, but One thing I take comfort in is that my days are spent pursuing what I consider "worthy" endeavours, that I hope are pleasing to my Lord.
Whenever my time here is done, I can have "peace that surpasses understanding," knowing my eyes were fixed on "eternal treasures," not stored up in "earthly treasures" that will fade away.
It's a good way to live. Roxanne knew that, and one day we will meet again.
Blessings🙏🏾
Dave Chouhan💖
PS. Roxanne was only able to be here to bless so many lives because of the compassion of an organ donor. If you feel so led, please consider signing up as an Organ Donor in the event of your death.
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