Jim Peery keeps the neighborhood, and his mind, smiling!

 Jim Peery is an inspiration to his entire neighborhood in Sandy, Utah, and even more to his family and friends that see his example everyday.  25 years ago, healthy, active Jim was given a completely life changing diagnosis. At the time, he was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, which is very much a disease that is quickly terminal and causes terminal physical symptoms, especially with walking and movement, but with most daily functions.  

After Jim's diagnosis of ALS, all of his family and friends watched as he beat every statistic and all of the odds given him by the medical community.  He was in a support group for people with ALS, and outlived the whole group.  He had physical limitations come that are typical to ALS and progressed over the years, but at a much different level and speed, and then seemed to stop at a certain point before most people with ALS become terminal. This mindset, however, created what it often does, an appreciation for life that not many of us can fully appreciate. 

The doctors eventually changed his diagnosis to PLS, which is not terminal, and and still comes with the physical limitations, but Jim's family and friends got the blessing of having him here for much longer than if ALS was his diagnosis. We as his family and friends are forever grateful for this, because we get to see the strength and example of this beautiful person still and for years to come and his strength and trust in God has helped Jim to become an inspiration to his whole neighborhood. 

Jim and his wife moved to Sandy, Utah a few years ago. After getting settled for some time and meeting new neighbors, the city announced they were going to paint a very very long, red, fence right by Jim's house that very much needed painting.  It was a big undertaking.  Jim saw the fence everyday and noticed the bottom of the fence was where most of the paint was damaged, but also noticed a whole supply of dead leaves, and others trash that covered up the bottom.  An idea came to him.  He realized someone needed to clean that area up to help the city get ready and make sure that area could get painted.  He thought to himself "Well, I am somebody!" and being the intuitive and creative person he has always been, he arranged the scooter he had to now use to get around with a garbage can on rollers, rakes, bags, and supplies to make this happen, and WENT TO WORK!  After a year, the bottom of the long, long fence looked great, but the top still had vines all over it and needed some attention, so again, he WENT TO WORK and by the next year, the fence looked amazing and the neighborhood had a new, favorite neighbor. 

He has not stopped, he still goes out almost daily and cleans the area, and branches into other areas of the neighborhood and brings beauty as he cleans up the dead leaves and trash.  He has quite the collection of bright orange shirts he wears daily as he goes out and cleans. His quiet work was noticed by a lady who works at the local newspaper and she did an interview with Jim and his neighbors, and wrote a beautiful article, and even made a tv news report eventually on Jim.  She followed up years later with another article.  We have them all for you here.  Read about this neighborhood hero that keeps the neighborhood inspired and looking beautiful.  When asked, he says that people in his situation really have to do all that they can, get up and go to work however you can.  Keep your mind active, have a purpose. We thank you Jim!