He's a hero - Saralynne Mullen never would have expected to get a second turn at love with a man like James. A divorced mother of two, Saralynne was encouraged by a friend to attend a Parents Without Partners meeting. "I had a friend who was looking for a husband. I was just looking for a social life," Saralynne said. What she found, however, was her husband and her hero. After his wife passed away, James' daughter urged him to try to meet someone. "She caught my eye the first time I saw her," James said. "He was very much a gentleman," Saralynne said, and love followed quickly after their first meeting. They were married eight months later and have shared the last 16 years together. James is a hero in his local community, serving in the Hilton Fire Department for 42 years with many heroic moments including being one of the first men on the scene of the disastrous Hilton fire of 1965 and pulling a neighbor out of his burning house. James has served as fire chief and held several offices in the Hilton Fire Department Exempt Club. He also worked in the community as Fire Marshal and Code Enforcement Officer for both the Village of Hilton and Town of Parma. For Saralynne, her husband is a hero day in and day out, and it has little to do with his impact on the local community. She has watched James tackle his personal health challenges with a hero's heart and with amazing bravery and class. In 1991, Saralynne came home to a nightmare. Coming through the front door she called upstairs for James who was supposed to be getting ready to go out. When she didn't get a response, she started up the stairs calling him again. This time he was able to muster a response. Saralynne, a former nurse, heard trouble in her husband's voice. "I knew it (a stroke) had happened as soon as I heard his voice," she said. The stroke paralyzed James' left arm and took the flexibility out of his left leg. In spite of this personal setback, James continued to lead a full life including working and volunteering. His health problems continued, and in 2003 James lost his left leg, forcing him ton use a wheelchair fulltime. Undaunted, James has been driven to lead a full life. Soon after losing his leg, James earned the right to keep his driver's license using a typical car. While his body has struggled, his mind and spirit are as heroic as ever. "I've learned to be more cognizant of the problems other people have," said James. "It's not a one-armed world." Regardless of the obstacles he has encountered, James continues to serve his community through volunteering in several organizations. He and Saralynne stay active socially visiting friends, traveling and dining out. Recently James got a motorized scooter, which he is anticipating will allow him to be even more mobile. "I'm just waiting for the snow to melt so I can sidewalk test this thing," James laughed. Laughter is a big part of his recipe. The Mullens feel blessed and their spirit is evident in the way they talk about each other and discuss the future. "James sets an example for me. He's very spirited and patient," Saralynne said. "So many people would sit back and say 'why me?' " James has performed many heroic deeds, but for his wife Saralynne, his heroism is much more evident in his daily living. "I've served as his main caregiver since 1991 and it has been my privilege," she said. |
