Enjoy Cherokee Magazine - March / April 2022

Page 39

Dennis, pictured left, first started coaching lacrosse to spend time with his stepson Kyle Teasdale, pictured right.

A Note From The Author

Former player and current friend Conor O'Sullivan, M.D., often swings by to spend time with his old pal Coach Conway.

everyone knows. There must have been many days when his illness caused pain, tiredness, and frustration, but he didn’t show it.” Hunter has since moved to Denver, Colorado, and comes by to visit Dennis and Leana whenever he’s in town. Dennis and Leana say he is the ginger-haired son they always wanted—sort of. When asked to reflect on his life story so far, Dennis says, “Samer Masaad, our lead pastor at Woodstock City Church, told us we must keep the faith during our setbacks. Our setbacks may be the setup for the most important part of our lives. This has been true in my life. All the pain, struggles, and loss have worked together to bring me to my greatest love and my most significant role in furthering the Kingdom of God.”

Coach Conway had to quit coaching in 2020 because the cold temperatures had become too hard on him. MS and cold are not friends. Now an “indoor cat,” he volunteers at Woodstock City Church in its special-needs Sunday school class and leads a small college-aged group called Coach’s Corner.

Dear Readers, you probably noticed I share the same last name as Dennis Conway. Indeed, he is my husband. When I was asked to write this article, Dennis’s biggest worry was that he be made to sound like a much better person than he is. While he is a great inspiration and great guy, he is no saint. I have lived with and taken care of him 24/7 for the last twenty years. There are days when we are very frustrated with each other and days when I have refused to plug in his wheelchair until he smartens up. That said, I know no one else as determined as my husband to do something useful with his life all the while having fun. Dennis has the heart of a lion, and I love him fiercely. –Leana Conway

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