Sandra (Freeze) Purdy

I was one of those shy, awkward girls in high school. I really wasn't involved in any clubs on campus so, I don't think very many people knew me. Although, I was part of the 30 kids who went from Kindergarten at Monte Gardens Elementary though high school together.

After graduating from CVHS I went to Bethany College in Santa Cruz for 1 year. I came home for the summer and worked at (remember) Rhodes Department Store. I decided to go to DVC for a year and earn my AA Degree in Humanities. I then returned to Bethany College and met the man of my dreams ... yes his name is Homer. We have been married for 41 years, have three wonderful children and 4 beautiful grandchildren.

I worked as a secretary in the Hesperia School District in the District Superintendent office, was a SARB secretary and also worked in the Purchasing Department. From there we moved to Stockton, CA and I worked at Delta College in Human Resources. Next we moved back to Hesperia where I was a Patient Advocate for Desert Valley Medical Group. My next job was the Director of Marketing for a large Senior Health Care facility. We moved to Templeton in 2000 where I was employed at Family Care Network as an Executive Secretary to the CEO and CFO of the agency.

My husband and I have been pastoring for the last 41 years. He was senior pastor of The Family Church in Templeton, California, a beautiful community in San Luis Obispo County on the central coast. He also worked at the Paso Robles Department of Juvenile Justice as a teaching assistant in the boys prison.

I loved my job. But, when I began falling and stumbling down the halls then started having trouble articulating I knew there was a problem. I immediately went to the doctor who sent me to have an MRI - stat! The test results showed severe brain damage. In March of 2004 I was diagnosed with a rare brain disease call Binswanger Disease. The neurologist, after extensive testing, basically told me to go home and do whatever made me feel happy and productive. There was no hope for me. I would gradually go into dementia, would need to be put into a convalescent home and would soon pass away. But, I'm a fighter and I wouldn't give into the bad prognosis. It has been two years and my doctors are totally amazed at my progress. Instead of getting worse, I have improved and I'm no longer showing any signs of the disease. I have a new doctor now and he wants to send me to UCLA Medical Center's Neurological Department for further testing.

Joyous Update - August 2006

I had a doctor who was very proactive in keeping me healthy. He told me not to sit sedentary, to keep my mind and body active. Those of you who know me, know that I'm a fighter and I refused to give into the diagnosis and determined I was going to win this fight. A lot of prayer went up for me and I give ALL the praise to God and His mercy and love.

Yesterday, I went to the UCLA Medical Center, Neurology Department, on a referral from my doctor, and saw a specialist. He ran me through a whole battery of test and asked me a lot of questions. He reviewed my MRI and PET scan. After about an hour of all of this, he told me that I DON'T HAVE BINSWANGER DISEASE. He said that I am a healthy and SMART woman. He said my memory was better than his and I had answered questions that He wouldn't have been able to answer. I passed all the physical and neurological test. He says that what was happening to me 3 years ago was due to all the stress I was under at the time. He also said that my diabetes and thyroid were not under control and gave me those symptoms. I was so excited, it was like a death sentence was lifted off my shoulders.

They didn't think I would be alive a year ago . . . but . . . look at me now!!