Jerry Teaney of Dillsboro, never imagined losing his wife suddenly, facing life without her.
But Teaney knows well about persevering through times of trouble. At 11 years old, Teaney was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes, a disease that affects nearly 1 out of every 400 children or adolescents in the country, an estimated 215,000 children in the U.S. alone. This disease can often cause high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, nervous system disorders and many other complications.
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eaney would endure many of the complications. As he neared his teen years, however, he was more interested in archery competition, earning extra pocket money, and just being a normal kid.

When he was 16, he worked at a gas station in Dillsboro, and soon met his wife-to-be, Rhonda Ohlmansiek. They dated, married and had two children. Rhonda Teaney worked as a nurse, a very compassionate nurse, said Teaney, even working the night shift due to his health declining and the opportunity to care for him during the day.