In the Blink of an Eye

About the Book

This book is about my experience having surgery for an aneurysm on my brain. The doctor admitted that he made a mistake. He had clipped blood vessels, which caused me to have a major stroke. I woke up being paralyzed completely on my dominant side from head to toe.

About the Author

My name is Mary Ellen Eaton Smith.

I grew up in a Christian family and was the seventh child of eleven children. I attended all my years of school in Illinois. After high school, I graduated from cosmetology college in Olney, Illinois. I worked in a hair salon while I was married, and as time passed, I was blessed with three children. That’s when I decided to stay home with my children.

I was involved in church in Medora, Illinois. I sang in the choir and sang solos. I was also the chairman of the mother-and-daughter banquet for a number of years.

I became a mime and preformed Jesus on the cross for three years at various times. As my children got older, I went back to work at JC Penny for sixteen years and retired as master designer. While I was there, we cut hair for donations for the Ronald Mc Donald House, and through Penney, we walked for March of Dimes. During all this time, my husband was very sick and my mother-in-law also. I took care of her for twenty years. I became a widow and continued working.

Seven and a half years after the death of my husband, I married Donnie Smith. I now have nine grandchildren of my own and a stepson and a stepdaughter, with three step-granddaughters and three great-step-granddaughters. I am very Blessed. My residence is in San Antonio Texas but I come back to Illinois frequently to be with my children and grandkids and my family and friends. Eight years ago, being blessed to be a stroke survivor, I had the opportunity to talk to different stroke survivors and try to inspire anyone when your life changes.

Now we are back to traveling, and I enjoy reading history books.

Mary Ellen Eaton Smith