Patricia Gilpin:
CLASS OF 1975
Hickman High SchoolClass of 1975
Columbia, MO
West Junior High SchoolClass of 1972
Columbia, MO
Fairview Elementary SchoolClass of 1969
Columbia, MO
West Boulevard Elementary SchoolClass of 1968
Columbia, MO
Irving Elementary SchoolClass of 1966
Joplin, MO
Patricia's Story
Life
After graduation,I married one of our classmates brothers, we were married for 9 years and had one son, James Bonuchi. He is 33 ears old now and is married to a beautiful young lady Marcy. He works for Dents Unlimited./Toalson Glass. I worked for the same business for 19 yrs, then decided onto other things, as being a single Mom for 8 years woring 60+ hours a week and not seeing James much, I needed a job where I could be home more. At that point I met my 2nd husband Mike Gilpin who I had no idea, but graduated in our class. We have been married for 17 yrs. Mike has two daughters Erin 28 who is married to Russell Catron, they have a daughter Bridgett 7 and a son Aiden 5, and Jenny 25 is married to Shawn Neu and they have a son Logan who is 3. So we are proud Grandparents. I had to retire from banking August 2001 as I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 3/3/99 (a wonderful 4th anniversary present for Mike and I). My outlook for the future is that I know my MS is progressive, so I take a day at a time and thank the Lord for each one He lets me enjoy. I now go to the hospital every month for treatments to hopefully slow some of the progression. I have a cocker spaniel (Missy) who will not let me out of her sight. This point in my life (healthwise) is one that I never dreamed I would be at, so enjoy your health and don't take it for granted. I never did, but now there is so much I still want to do, continue to try and do, and find other ways of doing something if I can't. I'm very much for stem cell research and wish that every one would take a serious look at this research. I already know of one little girl that it has saved her life. I live on 10 acres, have my Native American 20 foot tipi, study the Native American Heritage, do crafts, enjoy working outside, mowing and have my ATP so that I can go an...Expand for more
ywhere on our property. Living in the rural community has been a wonderful blessing. I have a booth with my sister-in-law every year at the Pumpkin Festival. We sell our crafts that we have made.I make and sell cheesecakes. One of the things I really love doing.Mike never knows what he is coming home to sometimes, what projects I might be doing. He came home one day to find 8 baby chicks in our garden bathtub. So I now have chickens, laying eggs, selling them, and giving some away. I have MY own set of power tools, my own riding lawn mower, and my own tools so that I can do just about what ever I want. I love being in nature. I have started hunting and have really enjoyed that. Missed my first deer as I had to go to the bathroom. (One of those MS creep up and gets ya!) I had sat in my deer blind for about 4 hours and just as I was getting out there she stood. I couldn't do anything but look at her. Finally, when I went to get her in the view of my scope she bolted. That's how it goes. I love hunting, I have a crossbow and try to keep sharp in my accuracy. I feel like life hasn't stopped due to my MS, it has given me a chance to do all the things I always wanted to do, but didn't have the time. My motto is "I may have MS, but MS DOES NOT have Me!" This past April 2011, my neurologist told me that my latest MRI showed that I was having no activity of the MS, & that it was in remission. I have been doing a happy dance since. I am an Ambassador of the Columbia MS Office which is a sister office of the St Louis Gateway Chapter, I go to the Capitol and lobby for things pertaining to people with disablilities, speak at wellness venues, or where ever else the Chapter may need me to go to. I really enjoy it, making people aware of what Multiple Sclerosis is all about. Mike and I feel very lucky, and blessed.
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