As much as we try to plan our lives it’s true that there will always be curve balls.
Events that put us in situations that we’ve never dreamed of.
Sometimes these happenings can be great gifts and learning experiences, but they can also be big burdens.
Yet those burdens are challenges we that we must face and overcome.
Wingston Churchill once said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
Meg and Joe built a beautiful tiny house for themselves and have been so happy because of it.
Since then they’ve created more free time along with plenty of discretionary income, both of which are amazing gifts.
They were saving so much, in fact, that they decided to cut their health insurance. What happens next was completely unexpected.
Well, on August 21st, 2012 Joe suffered a stroke at an early age. And if the health challenges weren’t enough, it’s now a financial challenge as well.
But thanks to their low cost, mortgage-free lifestyle it’s going to be a challenge that they can not only face but quickly overcome.
“It’s a very tough road for him, a lot of work, but I know he’ll make it through and he is so thankful to be alive. He misses his house so much as he’s been in the hospital since the 21st. I thought you’d like to know and maybe it could be a subject on your site for people considering living in a tiny house and how even when the worst of the worst happens to you, owning a small affordable space can be an absolute lifesaver.” – Meg
I just want to send some community love over to Meg and Joe. They inspire us here in the comments by living what we all dream of and sharing it with all of us.
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Alex
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Great testimony to GOD’s plan. HE never gives us more than we can handle with HIS helping hand.
Thanks Jack!
I wish you a speedy recovery, Joe! I hope you & Meg get to enjoy your tiny home for many years to come… Get well soon!! 🙂
Dear Meg and Joe,
I wish you well.
My late grandfather sold insurance. He told me one very important thing in life, never go without insurance. It is so true. Just as the two of you, I had friends that decided to cut out their insurance. I told them to go with higher deductables and less coverage. about six months after the change, they both needed major surgeries. They were thankful that they had some coverage.
Best of luck to both of you.
incredible bad luck…but balanced with both his partner and the decision to be part of the tiny house movement are in his favor…i wish joe a speedy recovery, and a full one…
for the rest of us when considering downsizing…lets not consider our health coverage dispensable please…joe’s lesson is one we all need to learn from, having a tiny home can mean for some who never had the resources to finally be able to afford health insurance, consider it a necessity in life that you can finally achieve.
Thank you so much John
I hope you get better very soon. I am sorry this happened. I have 4.5 yrs to pay off my land and be debt free. God bless you both.
Wishing you both the best and a full and speedy recovery. Heal well.
Blessings to you both.
THANK YOU for publishing your story. How WONDERFUL you live in a tiny house!! Grace comes in many ways.
Joe may you find the courage to keep working thru the hard things and Meg may your words be kept positive and your strength kept strong. And Meg, please take time for yourself each day, a walk, a long shower, whatever restores you. I know from experience how important this is for you. You’ll make it thru. Health cometh.
Love and Light be yours.
Dear Meg and Joe,
Thanks so much for sharing your story! Wishing Joe a very speedy recovery! When he comes home, it might be that living in a tiny house might just be really helpful and convenient to have everything at an arm’s reach …
Hope you have friends and family close by to support you through this period. Much love!
SueZen
Yikes, that’s just awful. I hope you’re soon well enough to go home to your lovely tiny house, Joe. Sending best wishes to both of you.
God bless! Hope Joes gets home soon and is feeling better! Sending you both prayers and positive thoughts!
I know first hand how devistating strokes can be. God bless you both!
I wish you both the best. Thanks for sharing this story. I think you are both a great example of leadership & change. Change is constant and the best we can do is embrace it, even when that change has adversity (you overcome it). Well done!
You two are a great insperation to us all in over coming great odds keep up your good example and dont ever forget to going. Thank you.
oops ment to type “keep going” 🙂
Thanks for sharing your God Story with us. We too have been through our share of life challenges. Our Marine son was blown up in Iraq in 07. Praise God he lived to tell about it…but his mom and dad have barely recovered and now find ourselves living in a tiny one car garage/cottage. Gods blessings come in often times unusual ways. Keep Believing God…He is Who He Says He is!!! Prayers to you both.
Meg & Joe;
First of all, we wish you, Joe, speedy recovery. Thanks for sharing your story with the Tiny House Community. This story, even though how tragic it seems, is very inspiring for us all… especially to those who are deciding whether to go “tiny” or not. My wife and I have decided to go tiny because of the continuing shakiness of the economy and we don’t want to be dependent upon the government. Social Security looks eminent that it will soon be of nonexistence and unavailable. The tiny house I’m building for my wife and I is our “retirement plan”. The tiny house coupled with growing and storing our own food for years to come should be enough to suffice when it comes time to retire to our rocking chairs. And since my wife has years of experience in the medical field, she’s looking at growing herbal plants (this is why she’s getting a nice garden window in our tiny house) for medical treatment for us in our older age. Anyway, get well soon, Joe, and God bless the two of you.
Get well soon! I feel your pain as another uninsured.
Meg and Joe,
So sorry to hear of your health challenges. Joe I hope you will be back to your old self soon. I am really happy that you have already downsized to a tiny home and can know that is one less thing you have to be worried about. May the Lord bless and watch over you and Meg as you heal and inspire others!
To meg an Joe, I’m praying for your speedy recovery, an you certainly have all my best well wishes. Keep hanging in there, an absoultey never give up! I know you can come back an be better than ever! An remember there are many of us out here who are totally rooting for you. Hold your heads high, keep your spirit, an just go forward one step at a time. I know you’ll do great!
All my love an prayers to you both , Dixie Hacker Hurley.
Joe Get well soon. You and Meg both will be kept in my prayers.
Your tiny house/lifestyle is awesome! Joe, heal fast and well! The very best (and economical!) way to virtually guarantee recovery and assure that you never have another stroke or a heart attack can be viewed at (Link Expired: heartattackproof.com) Please go to the “media” section. It’s wonderful–simply a way of eating–no products to buy.
Best of luck!!!
You will both be in my prayers and I wish you a quick recovery Joe! May God bless you and Meg.
My husband became gravely ill several years ago. We were without insurance; through the kindness of many people and a payment plan we were able to pay off that debt. I just lost him to a long battle of kidney disease, this time he had insurance and hospice care. Enjoy your home. And enjoy every minute you have with each other they are precious.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Lori. Time is really all we have isn’t it? Nothing else matters but how you spend your time with those you love.
thanks and you are so right
May the good Lord continue to bless you both as well as the rest of tiny house community. in Jesus name may there be a full and complete recovery for Joe and for Meg may this experience and the recovery there of Glorify the Living God! Wooohoooo Ty Jesus for loving us and caring for our family of tiny Ouse lovers!
I have been very sick for about two months, and having a hard time taking care of our 22×24 log cabin. (400sq ft) I am over my pity party now, thanks Joe! I have spent a lot of time on the ‘net and on paper, exporing tiny/micro homes as a solution to keeping house while sick/injured. And eventually elderly. A great way to keep independent longer and reduce expenses so that I may be able to afford insurance!
Great point Tirana! Get well soon.
My husband became gravely ill several years ago. We were without insurance; through the kindness of many people and a payment plan we were able to pay off that debt. I just lost him to a long battle of kidney disease, this time he had insurance and hospice care. Enjoy your home. And enjoy every minute you have with each other they are precious.
You guys are the absolute best. Thank you all so much for sending Meg and Joe your blessings and best wishes.
Thinking of you! Hope and prayers that you will be back home soon! From Wisconsin…
Thank you all so very much for your thoughts and kind words of encouragement. I’m sorry it took me a while to respond but life has been a little overwhelming lately. I have just finished reading this post (thank you so much, Alex) and all of its beautiful comments to Joe and it made him smile. He feels all the love from our tiny house community. He’s been in vigorous physical therapy for almost three weeks and makes huge improvements everyday. Though his right side was weakened everyday there are new movements and more strength. There is no doubt he’ll be back in action in record time! Tomorrow is a big day, the team of physical therapists at the hospital are going to asses whether Joe will be safe in our tiny house. He’s sick of being in the hospital and desperately wants to come home, so hopefully all will go well. Thanks again for all those lovely comments. What wonderful group of people you are.
Meg
Thanks for updating us Meg. I was so happy to hear that Joe was approved to go back home this Saturday in your email. 🙂
Meg, my thoughts and prayers are with you, being an advocate and caregiver is rewarding but very hard work. People would tell me to take care of myself and after awhile that would drive me crazy. How? I did however come up with some ways. I treated myself to walks in the woods near my home and time to drink in the beauty around me. It didn’t cost anything but was priceless. I hope he’s at home soon it does so speed recovery…for both of you!
Lori
http://www.germannewmedicine.ca/documents/videos.html
I’m praying for a speedy recovery. Know that you’re in our thoughts and prayers.