What are AED's?
He will not give it only to me. He will also give it to all those who are longing for
him to return. 2 Timothy 4:7-8
The Panama City Junior Service League asked me to come and speak about John
Wesley's foundation and whatever I was led to say. This turned out to be a perfect
forum for the words that were heavy on our hearts. We felt we needed to tell "our"
story also, since we feel it helped shaped who John Wesley was and is. I wrote it
very quickly and just the night before I was to speak, so I know the words are
honest and from both of our hearts. As Heather and I read it after I typed it out, it
seemed we were reading something someone else had written about us, not
something I had written minutes before. It also enlightened us as to John Wesley's
character and how he came about some of his giving, compassionate ways. He had
watched us for years overcome, rebuild, start over, and still be thankful for what
we were left with after each adverse moment. This is not from us knowing all, being
smart, or even knowing what to do sometimes, its from having faith that God will
see us through these tough times and knowing there is someone else, somewhere,
that has less than we do...at any given time. Most of the time all we had left was
our health and family...until now. The best way to express this to others is to be
transparent, to tell people about family and what it has endured, and maybe, just
maybe, help someone overcome, rebuild, start over, and be thankful for what they
do have and allow God to lead them through it. Believe me, we're riding on grace
and faith right now.
May 1st 2007
I would first like to thank the Junior Service League for their overwhelming kindness and
support during these most horrific of times, for what they have done for us, this community
and the memory of John Wesley. I would like to tell you a story. Fourteen years ago today my
wife and I started our lives together. We planned our future, we traveled, we lived as carefree
as we could. After several years we decided to have a child. Strangely enough we said we
would like to have a son, as if we could choose. The day we saw the sonnegram we looked at
each other and said “Thats John Wesley” we knew it was a boy even before the proof.  Our
lives were good. Good jobs, happy marriage and now a wonderful baby boy. We were involved
at church, and had strong faith that the good will prevail. This is one of the points of our lives
that seems to change direction. On Memorial day 2001 our house burned, we lost everything.
We stood in the street and said with a smile, “At least we have our health and family and no
body can take that away” We didn't have anything else but the clothes on our backs but we
had our family. We rebuilt, we started over. Life went back to good. Things got better when
we got news we would have a little girl. The family unit seemed complete. But adversity
would not forget us. It seems because of the fire and some clients unwillingness to pay, my
business would spiral with great resistance to an end. This was humiliating, depressing, but at
that time we looked at each other with great faith and said once again “At least we have our
health and our family, no body can take that away”.  I took a job here in Florida to make a
living and a change. I drove each week back and forth from Alabama to Panama City for six
months so I could still see my family and work to move them here with me. Life started to
get better, I had my family, a good job, things seemed to turn around for us once again. But
again, adversity would knock at our door. The strain and stress of working long hours and
few moments of just husband wife time would take its toll. Marriage didn't seem to work as
good as it used to, and separation would ensue. Facing our kids, we both realized that making
it work would benefit them greatly and we owed that to them, we made changes and made
another effort to make it work. We were determined, we had faith, and would beat the odds.
Like clockwork, things improved. Life once again was good. We had happy kids, a new
enthusiasm toward our marriage and things seemed to be ok, we would make it. In April
2006, just as recovery began, I lost my job. Seems the distraction of a troubled marriage and
dedication for my kids got in the way of my eleven hour a day job. This time it took a couple
of days before we uttered those now famous words, “At least we have our health and our
family, no body can take that away”. Within two weeks I found a job in insurance, something
I had not done before, but quickly developed a passion and was pleased that the hours allowed
me to spend more time with my wife and kids. The desire to succeed would pull me past any
apprehension. Things went well, I made John Wesley’s practices, games and even went to
school for lunch with him many times. I was able to take he and McCain to school everyday,
was an involved parent and loved it.  John Wesley loved being a kid, and we loved being his
parents. He was so much fun just to be around.  McCain slipped into her place as little sis but
made her voice heard as an equal. This job change seemed to be a blessing in disguese . I finally
made a risky but good decision. I had found paradise, a son who was loving caring and
thoughtful of other people, and loved sports  Ok thats perfect, a daughter that overflows with
spirit, Once again we were on top, We had overcame again. November 25 2006, life stops,
and the nightmare begins. John Wesley was a healthy nine year old little boy. He collapsed in
the front yard while we were throwing the football. We later learned he suffered sudden
cardiac arrest. The CPR that I gave him would never save his life, an electrical shock was the
only thing that could have.  John Wesley was as healthy as any of your children. This is the
one nightmare that you don’t wake up from. This is the one that cant be overcome. This is the
one that stops the trend of our famous quote, “At least we have our health and our family
and nobody can take that away” Well it was taken away. The one thought that will bring a
parent to their knees has happened to us. The living hell is our new life.  One of the things
that gets us up each day, and the ability to function, is the hope of seeing John Wesley again.
Another is remembering his life.  He was a giving, loving and a thoughtful young man.  Each
and every day was graced with his smile and his laughter.  His commitment to give back and
to be thoughtful to others was real.  His love for life was genuine.  Ask anybody that knew
him, his kindness stood out from his other quality's. I have yet to meet another child with his
attributes, his natural ability to make the most out of every day. That is why we started The
John Wesley Foster Foundation, to give us an avenue to continue his mission of giving.  By
raising money we might be able to save another parent this same horror by placing AED’s in
places that would make the most difference.  An AED is a device that can administer that
electrical shock that possibly could have saved his life or the life of someone you know and love
suffering sudden cardiac arrest which is what took John Wesley from us. And our mission to
make these available at Frank Brown Park will continue. This park was very close to John
Wesley and providing AEDS here first is a must.  But the biggest impact John Wesley had on
me and many others is his gift of giving. THIS is what we feel will continue his legacy, his
memory. The money we raise for his foundation will also be used to provide sports
scholarships, school clothes and supplies, and anything else we can provide to make someone
else's life better. We feel him living through us, by giving back, volunteering,  spending time
with others and showing them what we learned from him will make the most positive impact
on society. We are also developing an award to be given to a third grade child who shows the
same humanitarian characteristics as John Wesley. Planning family trips to assist with the
elderly and mis fortunate with groceries, home repair or just to sit and talk with them to
continue John Wesley’s spirit of giving. I told you this story about our lives not for sympathy,
and not for you to be afraid. But to let you know there is no guarantee, no promise that life
is fair or even pleasant sometimes. So remember John Wesley, and make the most of every
day, light every room you enter and make a positive impact in every life you touch.

Copyright © 2007 RememberJohnWesley All rights reserved.