Light Up a Life

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Making a tax-deductible gift to  Agrace is a simple way to “Light Up a Life” in 2022. Any amount you give will help us reach our goal!

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College sweethearts Ric and Cathie Johnson married in 1968 during Ric’s two-week leave from the Army. It was the beginning of a lifelong love.

“He had to sell his dream car to get the ring,” their daughter, Erica Gallagher, explains. “My dad always said, ‘When you take those vows—you take them seriously.”

And he did. 

A teacher and avid runner, Cathie had several unexplained falls while running in the mid 1970s before her own research led her to conclude she had the disabling nervous-system disease multiple sclerosis (MS). After her self-diagnosis was confirmed in 1989, Cathie was determined to complete her Ph.D., keep working and travel with Ric. 

For 30 years, Ric was Cathie’s main caregiver as she lived with the effects of MS. When the two retired, they loved to spend time with their grandchildren—and support Agrace: Cathie visited hospice patients and Ric helped organize Agrace’s annual golf fundraiser in Madison.

A Goal to Age at Home

Cathie’s goal was to stay in her home as the MS progressed. But as her mobility worsened, she needed extra help with personal care. Erica remembers, “When Age at Home became available from Agrace, it was a big sigh of relief. We knew that if Agrace was getting behind something like this, we were going to get quality, reliable care.”

Cathie with her Age at Home caregiver

Eventually, Cathie also enrolled in Agrace Hospice Care. Near the end of her life, she came to Agrace’s Madison inpatient unit for acute care. “She said it felt like home,” Erica notes. “We felt so supported and so lucky that we could go there—and just visit—and know they were taking care of everything she required to die peacefully and with dignity.” 

“We would stand vigil throughout the day and were just so exhausted, emotionally and physically. The staff made it OK to go home—take care of yourself, just be there with your family.” 

Cathie died peacefully in February. Needing someone to talk with, Ric sought grief support from Agrace. Just three months later, on Cathie’s 75^th birthday, Ric spent a beautiful day with family, then went to sleep … and joined his soulmate. 

Erica notes, “We all learned so much from him, and the most important lesson is that true love never ends.”