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 SUZANNE DODGE
In 1987 I became a single mother with three children under the age of ten. In 1992 I made a decision that would change my life forever. Having dated a man for two years, I accepted his marriage proposal, sold my home and relocated my three daughters Stephanie 15, Stacey 13 and Kaitlynn 6, family to Brampton to live on a dairy farm looking for a better and easier life.
Three days after our arrival while helping in the field, I was hit with a 1200 lb bale of hay. This accident broke my leg and dislocated my shoulder. After a week in the hospital and eight months of physiotherapy, I was finally able to walk without the help of a cane. The marriage did not happen and our family moved back to Prescott.
Fast-forward to 2002 when I woke up one morning in terrible pain and crawled to the bathroom. Unable to walk I had a friend drive me to the doctor who diagnosed me with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The pain was intense and I went to see three specialists before I received medication that enabled me to function day to day. This condition was directly attributed to my accident in 1992.
Today, I am Mayor of Prescott and work full time as Director of Marketing for an international company in addition to running my communications company. My medication keeps my arthritis under control, but I have regular blood work done to prevent liver damage due to the pills I take. Often my hands and legs hurt and I tire easily, but still manage to work a full day. I worry often if someday my arthritis will confine me to a wheelchair, but the love of my mother and daughters keeps me focused at trying to live a healthier lifestyle.
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