by Tina Johnson
The moments in life that take you high and low, and within all the in-betweens, have punched me hard right between my blue, saddened eyes, in connection with my paralegal career covering two decades and my personal life up through age 56.
A Midwest, long-haired, shy girl, born, raised, educated, and married in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes. My interest in helping people started at a young age. I’m the big sister to my one and only baby sister, who is four years younger than me (Tina Marie Abraham and Tori Danielle Abraham). I have always been an introvert. Even though I’m shy, I still always smile. My blue eyes have always been praised by those who have complimented me throughout my life. As a young girl, I loved reading, playing with Barbies, writing, and coloring books. My perfectionism was inside me in all my writings, playing with friends, and coloring because if I messed up, or colored outside a line, pages were torn out and erased to say the least. A couple favorite books I loved and remember so clearly as a young child include all the Dr. Seuss’ and Little Golden Book(s) of course, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!, Tubby and the Lantern, and The Berenstein Baars and the Spooky Old Tree. Learning and growing up with Sesame Street, The Muppets, and Mr. Rogers, I was fascinated by the creativity and focus on being kind and loving to everyone.
In elementary school in Fort Benning, Georgia, I won a writing contest on the topic of the Bill of Rights, (Fifth Grade) which I had to read on stage in front of my fellow students, the entire school administration, teachers, and all the military personnel Let’s say, envision me with flushed rosy cheeks, long hair, dressed in a new outfit, and practicing beforehand, so that I would speak slowly and loudly for all to hear in the auditorium overfilled with so many eyes on me.Yet, I survived. My teacher was my best friend in school, who protected me from the threats of my fellow classmate girls, all because the little boys adored me.
In middle school, my rewrite of a new ending to the thriller movie by Alfred Hitchcock, “The Birds,” was chosen to be read out loud in class. I wish I could remember what I wrote but clearly remember the moment when my teacher told me that my alternative ending was remarkable.
All through high school and college, my papers and writings were highly praised and graded with “A’s” which provided me with confidence in what could achieve professionally. My college academic advisor wanted me to take speech courses, as he knew how much I preferred researching and writing twenty-plus pages of a paper over my fear of public speaking. This was a time when the television show, Ally McBeal, was popular and the Erin Brockovich movie launched in 2000. I became interested in being a paralegal recognized by the legal community nationwide. My Associates Paralegal Degree was easy, which is why I got a 4.0 GPA. I was ready to shine and make a name for myself as a career paralegal and GenXer, a generation often forgotten, sandwiched between the baby boomers and preceding Millennials, not your average peanut butter and jelly treat from our mothers. My P&J’s were squished on Premium Original Saltine crackers.
As a career PACE® Registered Paralegal and leader within my profession spanning two decades, it truly has been the essence of who I am. My voice, my writings, the feeling of strength and compassion, have come full circle. I’ve learned I am an emphatic and passionate paralegal, and my strength is my emotional intelligence. My significant event in my career is two-fold. First, I received the 2012 Unsung Legal Hero as a paralegal through the Minnesota Lawyers Publication from a nomination by a Minneapolis law firm where I spent fourteen years of my career, and my local Minnesota Paralegal Association awarded me the Outstanding Paralegal of the Year in the same year.Secondly, I will provide the ultimate award in a few minutes as we move to the moment everything shifted in my life.
It was a moment in September 2024, which sealed my fate. I was at home watching the Timberwolves basketball game with my spouse, Aaron, and he says, “why are you talking weird,” and I said, “no I’m not.” Three months later at Christmas 2024, my sister asked me the same exact question in which my spouse said “see, I told you so.” Then, I began asking my fabulous Estate Planning group at Maslon LLP, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, if they thought my voice was off or different. The consensus was yes. I then noticed weakness in my left hand as well, dropping things periodically. I researched “slower and slowed” speech which is called “Dysarthria.” Causes of slurred speech can range from minor issues like fatigue to serious conditions such as strokes, neurological disorders, or muscle weakness. The neurological issues of Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, where flashing in my eyes as I have a paternal aunt living with MS and a maternal uncle who died from ALS. My first thoughts consisted of intense fear and sadness. Even my clients noticed my voice changes from my upper and lower motor neuron disease which is fatal. My heart has been aching to infinity. As I waited the ten months to see a neurologist, I watched ALS documentaries to see if my symptoms connected, i.e. Steve Gleason and Brian Wallach who started “I AM ALS.” Let’s just say, I have been crying non-stop as I knew it was my fate and remembering my uncle who died six months after his ALS diagnosis. I do my best to take it day by day and it is exhausting.
On September 3, 2025, my ALS doctor confirmed my diagnosis and gave me a two-year diagnosis. On that devastating day, he recommended I quit working and enjoy my last days with family and friends. Because my career as a paralegal is the essence of my soul and who I am to the core, I instantly said to myself and to my team, my voice is my career. All my leadership positions within paralegal associations and the Minnesota legal community, which have brought me so many successes, were high on my list to keep going and fight for my voice. Because I was recruited to join Maslon LLP and strongly respected as a paralegal, I simply wanted to stay in the game and make my name well-known. My law firm fully supported my ALS journey, sharing tears and compassion every day. They continued to tell me I’m strong and inspiring. Yet I felt like I was letting everyone down, as I was at the prime of my paralegal career and had many more years to shine brighter. Knowing you’re living with a terminal disease, the emotions rise then decline each day, from tears to laughter, it’s like a roller-coaster. Losing my voice, my muscles, my stamina led me to retire prematurely, just six months after my official diagnosis of a death sentence. I did not want to bring down my attorneys and paralegals and most importantly, the clients. It’s not fair to Maslon, LLP, or the clients seeing me decline and literally turn into a sloth. The firm was incredibly supportive of me, aiding, understanding, and provided compassion as I navigate my new reality. For instance, I requested an ergonomic keyboard to help with typing. I was provided with flexibility in my billable time entries and hours to accommodate my loss of stamina. You would be surprised just how many doctor appointments and adjustments are needed at the ALS Clinic to help me battle my terminal disease. My early retirement was my decision, but I miss working so much. My days are now filled with ALS support group(s), researching and advocating for ALS, writing and planning my funeral, and sharing time via zoom with my fellow ALS warriors. Most importantly, sharing treasured memories and moments with my family and friends.
The most difficult part of my story is losing my voice. I spent my career sharing my voice, in publications, blogs, and legal magazines, and volunteering for speaking opportunities to show the legal community that I love being a career paralegal. Now my mentorship program, Expert Paralegal LLC, which I was researching and planning for, will no longer come to full fruition. It’s becoming more difficult to type, as my hands get weaker, stiffer, and colder, and my fingers continue to curl. Using a text to speak with my original cloned voice is what I do now with the ALS Association iPad that was borrowed to me. Staying involved in the Minnesota Paralegal Association and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, as the Director of Paralegal Certification, is helping me feel important in all things we, as paralegals, do.
My goal now is to continue advocating for paralegal certification and all the successes it brings to those who strive to be the best paralegal they can be,holding credentials and inspiring others. All the Attorneys I’ve worked with and for in my two-decade career have always supported me for what I’ve achieved. It has shown me that being hard-working and experienced paralegal is valued,including highlighting my RP® credential on my bio(s), email signature block(s), and in my publications and writings for the firm(s).
My new reality and perspective on life have impacted me deeply with sadness. I think taking my ALS journey one day at a time and doing so with grace and strength has helped me not to feel so alone and isolated. Yet, this experience was not anything I was ready for. Wishing for a cure is my new dream and doing so with hope and laughter as I battle ALS. The best thing thus far is the joy, laughs, and hugs with my boys, who are taking such excellent care of me in learning about ALS and making all my remaining days in this life feel deeply loved and cared for. Recently my son sent me a text saying, “I can’t stop crying mom, this just breaks my heart so much, I can’t do this without you (heart emoji) keep fighting I love you.” I cried and cried so much because without him, I wouldn’t be a mom. I struggle so much knowing I won’t be his rock as he moves through life. My family is my heartbeat.
I’ve spent my career helping families and loved one’s deal with death. Now, thinking and planning for myself, it feels quite different. I want to be remembered as an amazing, loving, compassionate, and inspiring paralegal that is known by my name. Also, for being a wonderful mother and wife for my boys.
Please remember me for my compassionate self, who loved all things paralegal and pro bono with MN Wills for Heroes, wearing my scent of patchouli,twirling in flowing skirts like a hippy, and filled with so much love, it hurts. I truly hope I am remembered and leave a lasting impression and legacy to all paralegals on teams who work hard to find joy and absolutely love their careers and who step up to lead with paralegal certification credentials.