Sarah and Jim Brady's Tests of Love

March 22 -- For 20 years, Sarah Brady has cared for her husband Jim, who was struck in the head by a bullet meant for President Reagan. She has lobbied tirelessly to educate the public and reform laws governing gun use. And now, with her husband still by her side, she is fighting her own deadly battle.

Two years ago, Sarah Brady learned she had lung cancer.

In her just-published book, A Good Fight, she writes not just about the battle to make her husband well, but her own battle to survive.

Test of Love

Though Jim survived and was able to return home eight months after he was shot by would-be presidential assassin John Hinckley Jr. in March 1981, the damage to his brain and body was lasting. His left leg was partially paralyzed, his left arm completely paralyzed, his memory and speech impaired.

"Those were the hardest years, by far. Jim had relapse after relapse," says Sarah. Still, with his wife's help, he made steady improvements, physically and mentally.

"I tell you, he's still one of the smartest people I've ever known," says Sarah. "He never — hardly ever — misses a Jeopardy! question."

Though caring for Jim was all-consuming, Sarah says it was not too much of a burden to bear.

"I guess I never knew until Jim was shot how much I loved him," she says. "And with every year that has gone on, my love and admiration for him have grown and grown and grown. My life would be joyless without him."

Jim was not able to go back to work, but Reagan kept him in his administration with the title of press secretary.

"He still misses those days," says Sarah. "The president and Mrs. Reagan were just wonderful."

Jim, though proud of his accomplishments, laments, "I'm on the only press secretary that never went on to bigger and greater things."

The Brady Bill

During the years that followed the shooting, Sarah became one of the nation's leading gun-control activists — not just because of what happened to Jim, but also because her 6-year-old son had stumbled upon a loaded gun that a friend of Sarah's had carelessly left behind.