What Goes Around Comes Around

Some students think of Mrs. Gladys Clay as a grandmother. Some think of her as a mentor. As a professor in the tutoring lab and the biggest Carson-Newman sports fan, Mrs. Clay has had the opportunity to be a part of many students' lives throughout her many years at the college. She is supportive in the classroom, on the court and in life. Her advice and encouragement have meant a great deal to students in all majors, in all sports, and in all walks of life. She gives so much to the Carson-Newman community, who finally had a chance to repay her a fraction of what she deserves for decades of love. She helps in student's greatest time of need, and it was time for the students to help in hers. Gladys Clay refers to her husband, George, as a stubborn, determined man. A man she lovingly calls "Buddy" and has been married to for almost 25 years. George had been home from the hospital less than a week after a battle with pneumonia when on the morning of February 10th, he suffered a mini-stroke. It took Gladys from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. that Saturday to convince her husband to go to the hospital, and when he finally agreed, he refused to ride in the ambulance. George asked his wife "who died and made you a doctor?" to which Gladys replied "my mom." Gladys's mother had been through a stroke as well, allowing Gladys to recognize the similar symptoms of her husband.

The Clays were met at the emergency room entrance of Jefferson County Memorial Hospital, but George was not admitted until four a.m. Sunday. Doctors ordered a cat scan, which returned showing that a hairline vessel had collapsed in the left side of the brain at the back of George's skull, explaining the temporary paralysis on his right side.

Four days later, on his 71st birthday, George was transferred to the fourth floor of St. Mary's Hospital in the rehabilitation unit. Unfortunately, only one week later, George caught pneumonia again, and was moved down to the medical floor. Slowly, with determination and the support of his family, George was able to build up his strength in the transitional care unit and transfer back to rehab, where he took both physical and occupational therapy until being discharged on March 28th. Gladys made the 70 mile roundtrip visit every day but one, to support her husband. George had no idea that there would be a homecoming surprise waiting for him literally at his front door.

What George didn't know was that for two days prior to his homecoming, volunteers from Carson-Newman and Appalachian Outreach had been building a wheelchair ramp for a man who they deeply respect and care for. March 26th and 27th were construction days for students and friends of the Clays to give back to a family who has given them so much. A brand-new ramp now connects the Clay's driveway to their front door, giving George an easier road to recovery and a nice addition to his home.

After hearing of George's stroke and hospitalization, members of the Carson-Newman community were eager to help the Clays in any way possible. Campus Minister Rev. Jim Wilson and Appalachian Outreach Repair Ministry foreman Randy Mellon wanted to make George's recovery as easy and smooth as possible, deciding the best way to do so was to design and build a wheelchair ramp as an addition to the Clay's home. Wilson says the ramp is "about love. She (Gladys) been giving and giving and giving, and sometimes a token of her love comes back to her, even if it's just a token." Mellon has been the foreman for four years, during which, he and student AO volunteers assist the community in any cleaning, roofing, building and painting that needs to be done. Mellon refers to AO's Repair Ministry saying "helping others- that's what we are here for."

Student helpers were nothing but complimentary to the woman they referred to as "a grandma to me" and a "mentor." SGA student body president Levi Harrell said that "certain professors go the extra mile for you-Mrs. Clay is one of them." Harrell called the Clays a "great asset to the CN community" and thought that it was only right for the college community to come together and give back to those who give so much. Student and volunteer Joanna Tillman called the ramp a "thank-you for everything the Clays have done, on behalf of all students who you have touched over the years." Volunteer were only too glad to show a family the gratitude and appreciation for a lifetime of service and support. They wanted to surprise the Clays with a symbol of love in a family's time of need.

Wednesday morning, March 28, Gladys finally was able to take her husband home. She took him on the back roads on purpose so the ramp wouldn't be visible until pulling into their driveway. As they rolled up the driveway, Gladys recalled the moment when her husband first saw the ramp. When he saw the ramp "he started crying and couldn't stop saying "Oh my God. It's so beautiful, it's gorgeous." George sat in the car for five minutes in awe before his wife rolled him up the new ramp for the first time. For most of the rest of the afternoon and evening, the Clays sat on the ramp, only going in for dinner. The couple even shared a comforter together on the ramp as the night got cool and dark. With tears in her eyes Gladys said "I have never felt so loved and so filled up. It was just so beautiful and I have such a warm feeling."

A sign reading "Welcome home George Clay" was hung on the front of the house above the ramp the day before George's homecoming. The sign is still up today, hanging as a reminder that the kindness and love that the Clays have shared with a college community has now been shared with them. What goes around comes around.