The first highlight of growing up was starting piano lessons. Since I loved listening to my aunt play, I couldn't wait to play just like her. Of course, I thought it would happen in a week, but I soon found it would take a lot of practice. And I practiced and practiced and practiced. My favorite thing was to play really loud and really, really fast!

The second and most significant highlight of growing up was the birth of my little brothers. Twins, Jon and Jamie, were born on July 28, 1981. For nine months I hoped for one little sister. Well, God had different plans. Instead of one little sister, I became the big sister of two baby boys. However, the first time that I saw them, I knew I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. They were so much fun!

My Grandpa Oswald died in a farm accident in 1984 when I was almost 13. The months following that were very hard for our family, especially my dad. A little over a year later, in July of 1985, my family moved from Pomeroy to Osceola. I thought their making me move was the worst thing anyone could ever do to me, and I fought it every single box, good-bye, and mile of the way. Pomeroy was my home, and I didn't think any place else on earth would ever be home for me.

I started my freshman year at Clarke Community High School. Brian was a junior that year, and his popularity must have grown quicker than mine, because very soon I was known, not as Lisa, but as "Brian Oswald's little sister." Growing up, Brian and I used to fight like crazy, so I tried to pretend that I hated being known as his little sister, but secretly, I was pretty proud of it.

I joined everything I could, and soon I discovered fitting in at a new school wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Before I knew it, Osceola was home. In high school, my first priority was playing the piano at every opportunity. I accompanied the choir and band solos. I started playing the organ for church, and playing organ and piano for weddings. I loved every minute of it! I sang and danced in the swing choir. I was a member of the National Honor Society, and I was on the student council, president my senior year; I was a football cheerleader, captain my senior year, and I played basketball, and was team captain my senior year. My junior and senior years were trying ones on the basketball court. We just couldn't quite get it together. Consequently, our record my junior year was 1-19, and in my senior year, we were a perfect 0-20.

I graduated in 1989 with plans to go to Central College where Brian was (undoubtedly I'd, be known as "Brian Oswald’s little sister"), and major in early childhood/elementary education and minor in music. I'll always remember one special graduation card from my Aunt Bonnie. She wrote "God has special plans for you, Lisa." And at the bottom she wrote Jeremiah 29:11 where I found the promise, "I know the thoughts that I have for you...Plans for a future and a hope."

Although I thought that verse was interesting and special, I didn't really know what it meant. I had just finished a great senior year and there were fun times waiting at Central College, I knew. So I tucked that verse away in a special place in my heart and went on with the summer of '89, footloose and fancy free.

*******

At this point Lisa turned over newspaper clippings and her story continues from an article written by Laura Tigges, printed in the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune in the fall of 1994. Lisa had not mentioned that in addition to her other achievements, she was homecoming queen. Then, at age 18, with her bright future ahead, she nearly lost her life in a car accident on August 23, 1989. She was a passenger in the car driven by a friend with whom she attended the Iowa State Fair. Another driver lost control of his vehicle and smashed into the passenger side, where Lisa was riding. Lisa was taken by life flight to Iowa Methodist Medical Center "where she was diagnosed with a fractured neck, injured spinal cord, broken left ankle, broken right leg, and internal injuries." Ms. Tigges quoted Lisa as saying, "The first night they didn't think I'd make it. One nurse just told my parents to keep their fingers crossed. They were not very optimistic."

Surgeries followed. Lisa was paralyzed from the neck down for two weeks, and it was not until April that she was able to speak, even then just barely above a whisper. She was in intensive care for three weeks and spent nine months in the hospital. She was given physical therapy and first tried to walk on December 1, 1989. Again Ms. Tigges quotes her, "The first couple weeks I was disoriented. I thought I knew what was going on, but it didn't mean much. Then I thought I was dreaming and after awhile I'd wake up and be as I was before. When I realized it wasn't a dream, it was really scary. I know lots of times I got very depressed. Several times I felt like I didn't want to live.

"People I didn't know well sent me letters, cards, and flowers. Mom and Dad stayed in the Ronald McDonald house for several weeks, and then Mom came up every day and Dad in the evenings. Brian would stop by every weekend. He was a student at Central College in Pella, at that time. He'd say things like, 'When the going gets tough, the tough get going.' He was pretty motivating. He'd try not to let me feel sorry for myself too much. The twins were only eight years old, and the first time they saw me they were pretty scared of me. After they saw me a few times, they got used to it and were O.K. about it. It was hard for them while my parents were gone. My grandparents stayed with them and neighbors and friends helped out. When I came home from the hospital, they became my 'gofers' and were pretty good sports."

After nine months in the hospital, Lisa was released and continued physical therapy at Clarke County Hospital for nine months. By March 1991, Lisa was ready to take a big step. She started college at Central College, majoring in psychology. She had doubts but was encouraged by her parents, her brother Brian, her therapist Mike Schinzel, and future roommate Christi Van Werden. She finished an internship at the hospital and graduated. She took her mother's advice that she had a choice - she could talk about it and feel sorry for herself or face it and make something good come of it. Putting her nightmare to good use, Lisa finished her Central College education as an intern in the Child Life Therapy Department at Blank Children's Hospital at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. The goal of Child Life Therapy is to help children cope with hospitalization and ease their discomfort during medical procedures. Lisa graduated from Central College in December of 1994 with a degree in psychology. She continued her education at Iowa State University where she earned a Master's Degree in child development.

Her contribution to Clarke County is an early childhood center, The Village, which she promoted at the age of 27. The need for such a facility had become evident as businesses and industries reported to the Clarke County Development Corporation, but the scope of the project was gigantic. Surveys had to be made to determine the extent of the need, mandated requirements for such a facility had to be studied, a location and building considered, and fund-raising in the millions must be sought. As project coordinator, Lisa provided leadership and remained the spearhead of the operation. The name is from the quote "It takes a village to raise a child."

Lisa empathizes with parents who face adversity in trying to work 40 or more hours a week, in many cases at minimum wage. Often both parents are employed, while trying to "nurture family functions." She relates to them through the long, frustrating rehabilitation which she endured but which, she says, taught her a lot about life. "I learned that enduring misfortune or facing unappealing situations is something that we all encounter in one way or another at some time in our lives. Resilience and perseverance lie within all of us. We have to take advantage of it, and allowing others to help us is the first step to braving complexities...I have learned that no one can successfully go the distance alone. Schools can provide support, but they can't do it all. Likewise, social workers can provide guidance, and doctors can advise, but they can't do it all either. It takes the entire village to collaborate and empower a family. Community collaboration, I believe, is the key to assisting families striving to reach their potential."

It was this type of leadership that inspired the community and raised $1.7 million in order for The Village to become a reality. It opened its doors on June 3, 2002. But that is not the end of the story. During 2003 Lisa's life was threatened again - this time by pneumonia, and she felt it necessary to resign her very demanding position as director. It was a difficult decision because she loved her work. She had watched The Village progress from dream to blueprints to a facility that came to life with little children scampering throughout, supervised by child care specialists. Lisa will maintain her association with the Village through marketing, advertising, and assisting with curriculum and development. She is assisting in training the new director, Jamie Van Sickle, of South Dakota.

*******
Lisa has this addition to bring her story up-to-date:

Dad has been restoring Harken Hills Ranch for the last ten or so years, where he boards horses and continues to raise cattle. Mom is an assistant vice-president and Director of Marketing at American State Bank. Brian is the president of Great Western Bank's Osceola location, and he is still the greatest big brother ever. Brian married Mindy in 1992, and I was blessed not only with a sister-in-law, but my very best human friend. Brian and Mindy are the parents of Jacob, my nephew and favorite sunshine, and Megan, my niece and beautiful angel. I have always felt like a second mom to Jon and Jamie, because they are ten years younger than me. They were never supposed to grow up! Unfortunately they did, and I am so proud of them! Jon is in his fourth year of an electrical apprenticeship with Baker Electric, and Jamie works for the Farmers' Cooperative. Lucky for me, Jon and Jamie are still "little" enough to give their favorite big sister hugs! Finally, I am the proud mom of two little girls. Molly is a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, and extremely affectionate cocker spaniel (and my best non-human friend), and Chloe is an independent but loving cat.

My life has had lots of twists and turns and ups and downs. But I have learned so much, and I wouldn't trade what I have acquired for anything. I have faith in a God who makes "mountains bow down and seas roll." I am blessed to live within minutes of my parents and brothers. And I am rich with friends who have stood by me through the darkest times of my life. What more could I want?

 

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Last Revised November 4, 2012