Saundra Downes-Wright, 82
Saundra Downes-Wright, the oldest of five children, was born in Pawpaw, West Virginia on January 31, 1943. Saundra was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of six, which did not slow her down nor keep her from following her dreams.
Saundra enrolled in Bible College in Bel Aire, Maryland with hopes of becoming a missionary. She attended college for two years before going with a friend to the Eastern Shore of Virginia where fate had other plans; She met her future husband on Christmas day in 1965. Less than a week later, he proposed. Less than a year later, they were married.
She was a stay-at-home mom while her husband worked for the Department of the Interior. For more than 32 years, the couple tended to their farm and enjoyed pastimes such as boating and flying. Diagnosed early in life, she has spent every year facing her condition with courage. As a child, she endured teasing from other children, and even her own family doubted she would “amount to anything.” But through her unwavering faith in God and her determination, she surpassed every expectation. Along the way, she continued working hard and proving—to herself and to others—that she was capable of far more than anyone imagined. She later put herself through college and even opened and operated a clothing boutique in Cape Charles.
Saundra loves to crochet; it’s a hobby she took up when she was twelve. Crocheting and handwork, she discovered, has helped her manage her epilepsy by reducing stress and anxiety, which has resulted in fewer seizures. She continues to crochet daily and has even taught other residents how to crochet and do handwork. She has a group of friends who meet regularly to socialize and to work on their latest crochet project.
Ms. Downes-Wright credits the Lord for her strength and lives by the “Golden Rule, ” proving that she wasn’t going to let epilepsy define her or keep her from accomplishing her goals.
Lake Taylor Traditional Care Hospital, Norfolk
