Heros

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Heroes By Value

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Your Everyday Heroes

People do extraordinary things every day. They share their time, resources, or love. They show incredible strength and courage. They inspire us by their example. Here are true stories about real-life heroes, written by visitors to the site. You can also share a story of your own hero.

The following stories have been tagged with ‘Perseverance’

Kenda N.

Kenda is a Hero as she has brought more joy, smiles and higher self-esteem to my young adult child and others like him. You see, Kenda created and directs "Movement E-Motion", a dance program for individuals with different abilities - young adults aged 13 to seniors with Down Syndrome, Autism and physical challenges. This lady, the artistic director of AZDance…

Anna And Lawrence T.

My parents married in the late 50's when it was still very taboo for a couple of different races to marry. Plus they got together while still in high school ('cause of me!). They endured unspoken hardships due to poverty, racism & immaturity but still rose to the task. Dad, with Mom's strength and inspiration, graduated from college. They cared…

John H.

I have chosen my grandfather, Johnny, as my all-time hero. When you talk about perseverance, patience, and joy, grandpa was the epitome of all these. When my dad was two weeks old, Grandpa, a caboose man on the Rock Island Line, fell off the caboose and was run over by the train. He survived, although he was a quadriplegic. I…

Xavier C.

I am here to talk about my stepfather who had married my mother in 1994 for he loved her very much despite the fact she had three children. I am 34 now but at that time I felt very strongly that it was too soon for the two of them to get married. He was persistent and he believed very…

Vincent C.

My hero is my nephew, Vinnie. In his senior year, 2005, he was in an accident and lost his left leg. His right leg was smashed as well. He was due to graduate in less than a month. While in intensive care, he would ask for all his friends and family to come in to see him. He constantly told…

Larry V.

Larry is the president of a Business Exchange. He is a graduate of Purdue University and Harvard Business College. He has dedicated himself to his community all his life. He is a deacon of his church, involved with the Boy Scouts and serves on multiple realtor boards. Most importantly, he has dedicated himself, traveling all over the state, to promote…

Lori Ann Cheryl M.

I'd like to nominate my mother as my hero. My mom has showed me what sacrifice, perseverance and love are all about by living as a great selfless model. She dropped out of high school to raise me... alone, and had to put much of her dreams on hold. When I was six, my little brother died of S.I.D.S. After…

Rouney P.

So many times I have watched this man endure emotional pain beyond belief. And yet he continues every day to persevere and find focus to aid others in dealing with their own pain of many different situations. In May of 2004, I lost my 21-year-old daughter to a tragic car accident and this man inspired me to go on, to…

Employees Of North Arkansas Electric

On August 31, 2004, the employees of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative were dealt a painful blow. In an accident involving some of our linemen, three men lost their lives. Three men, who were just doing their jobs, did not get to go home to their families. They did not come back to work with their fellow employees - people who,…

Evonne W.

My mom is my hero. She was 14 years of age when she gave birth to me. Instead of deciding to quit high school, my mom completed high school as the valedictorian of her class and went on to earn two bachelors degrees and one masters degree. This may not seem very heroic, except that she was from a low…

Cliff M.

While working a summer job, Cliff jack-hammered through three buried high-voltage lines and was hit with 30,000 volts.\r\n\r\nThe accident burned off two toes, dislodged the back of his skull and fused his knee joints, shoulder and back. He experienced cardiac arrest three different times, and doctors recommended amputation of Cliff's legs.\r\n\r\nCliff found a doctor who was able to repair his…

Barbara S.

Barbara has been an exceptional educator for over 30 years. She has suffered with a physical handicap since birth and has never let that get in her way to succeed. She is an inspiration to her fellow educators and the thousands of students she has served through out her years of dedicated teaching and service. I believe she is a…

Maida A.

Fourteen years ago my mom brought my brother and me to the United States from our war torn country of Bosnia. She spoke no English, had no money and was a single mom. She also has a hearing disability which she knew would make it difficult for her to learn the language. However, she wanted to provide my brother and…

Bryant L.

Born and raised in Cabrini Green, Chicago's most notorious housing project, Bryant beat the odds and became a person that everyone can look up to. Raised in an extremely impoverished community where he shared a one-bedroom apartment with four others and where friends and family were continually being lost to the streets, Bryant resisted the negative influences around him and…

Carter S.

My Darling Son is My Hero\r\nA Poem to him, a soldier....\r\n\r\nTo live so boldly, to dare and overcome\r\nDaily dealings take a path that surprises...saddens\r\nLeaving God to make sense of the total sum\r\n \r\nTo rise to necessity, giving yourself for us\r\nYelling commands follow down mazes of mayhem\r\nNo hindsight needed, beyond the sandy chaos\r\n \r\nTo take the moment, and make it count…

Jody H.

I began singing as young as I can remember. And as soon as I could, I enrolled with the best music teacher in town. When I started with her, we could immediately tell our political and religious differences.\r\n\r\nThrough her teaching me, however, we have discovered that we have more in common than we could have ever imagined. We are both…

Isaias G.

My hero is my brother, Isaias. Right now, he is studying at the University of Indianapolis, majoring in Sociology and International Relations. In his free time, Isaias is always going to George Washington Community School and the Christamore House, teaching inner-city kids about leadership, and he is always telling them to stay in school and off the streets. He encourages…

Jason W.

My son, Jason, was severely injured in an automobile accident that left him in a coma for five weeks; he was minimally conscious for another month. While in rehab, Jason struggled to learn how to walk, talk, and eat again. Though he still struggles with his balance and his cognitive skills, he has come so far. \r\n\r\nIt amazes me to…

Nancy (Mom) R.

At the time of my birth it was found that I had or should I say have a condition known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta and my mother was told I would not live beyond the age of three years. Well, looking back on my life now, at the age of forty-nine, I have to say that I got much of my…

Chris H.

Chris was hit head on by a drunk driver at 7 a.m. on Nov. 15, 2005 on his way to work. He was instantly paralyzed from the neck down, was pronounced dead at the scene, revived and pronounced dead in the helicopter on the way to the hospital. Many more times he came very close to dying and had to…

Nicole D.

She is the most amazing person I have ever met. She is my inspiration, my teacher, my mentor and my friend. She opened my eyes to the world not only because she taught World History, but also because she popped my "small-town-bubble" which closed me off from the world. After meeting her, I finally realized what a wonderful, diverse, and…

Frederick O.

Frederick O., a Vanderbilt medical student, has drummed up support from numerous global health experts, high school, college and middle school students in the US to raise funds to build and run a clinic in the rural village of Lwala, Kenya where he grew up. The clinic provides care for a village with HIV prevalence of over 25%. In its…

John M.

John has worked in the field of vocational rehabilitation for nearly 40 years. During the short amount of time that I have worked under his tutelage, I have found myself constantly in awe of the qualities he exhibits daily. \r\n\r\nJohn is the ultimate social worker, unwavering in his commitment to serving others. He is completely non-judgmental and dedicated to serving…

David N.

My grandfather, David, died in 1999; he lived only half a mile up the road from where I grew up in upstate New York. Every day, he would walk down to our house to bring my dad the newspaper. Along with the paper he would bring a small bag of treats for my two brothers and me. Sometimes it was…

Victoria W.

There is a girl at my school named Victoria and she has Lyme Disease, which forces her to use a wheelchair most of the time. One day a while back, I heard Victoria talking to one of her teachers and through her conversation I realized that she is the kindest and most courageous person I've ever heard about. \r\n\r\nVictoria's smile…

Dennis D.

My dad is without a doubt my hero. He has always worked extremely hard to give my sister and me the things that he didn't have as a child. My dad is the most selfless person I know - always doing for others and never asking for anything in return. He and my mom put my sister and me through…

Scarlett H.

My hero is my daughter, Scarlett, who at age 4 suffered a spinal cord injury from a car accident. Scarlett, now 11, never lets anything stop her from living her dreams. She has always wanted to dance and be treated like any other dancer. For years, she has attended dance classes, practiced at home, and sought advice on dancing in…

Cliff &Amp; Shannon F.

Cliff and Shannon have adopted three children, all siblings, from a troubled home. These children are all under the age of five and the oldest has autism. Cliff and Shannon love these children unconditionally and are raising them in an environment of security, love and understanding. \r\n\r\nWithout much money or high-paying jobs, Cliff and Shannon struggle mightily to provide for…

Ben F.

Ben was my hero as he fought in WW2, a pilot in the Pacific Theater. Ben homesteaded in Wyoming and later built up several thriving businesses in Utah, along with his wife, Rita. Rita and Ben raised eight children who are all successful. Together they have helped many people throughout the years, both financially and spiritually. \r\n\r\nPerhaps the greatest challenge…

Paul B.

My hero is my Dad! I have always thought of him as such just because he is my Father. I admire him for living his life according to his own hopes and aspirations. At 75 years of age, he still embodies all the compassion and drive that he has possessed his entire life. \r\n\r\nPerhaps because I myself have matured I…

Dayna S.

Dayna was born with a rare disease called schizencephaly. This disease has restricted her from walking and talking since she was a baby. Dayna is now 16 and has surpassed her disability beyond anyone's imagination. Her perseverance and character have inspired me as a leader in my school community. For Dayna, there are no limits or boundaries that she can't…

Darius

Darius is my hero. He created a 90-minute documentary film to raise awareness of and money toward a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Darius has DMD, the most aggressive type of Muscular Dystrophy, from which his brother died at age 19. Since then, Darius has searched for a way to let other people know about the disease. Three years…

Catherine C.

Catherine overcame a rare form of cancer, which resulted in the amputation of her left leg from the hip down. While she endured her battle with cancer and coped with her losses, she was also completing a second book on apartheid to achieve academic tenure, raising a toddler, fighting a convoluted health care system and losing her father to bone…

Javier O.

Javier is my inspiration. Whenever I feel down it seems like I get a text message or a phone call that just brightens my day. He is always cheerful and happy and willing to help others through their time of need, even when he is having a rough time. He never has an unkind word to say to anyone and…

Will S.

My hero is my husband, Will. He suffers from FSH Muscular Dystrophy, and has recently been diagnosed with a grade 3 (cancer) brain tumor. We have 2 little girls ages 3 and 4. My husband has been through a needle biopsy in his brain only to determine that his tumor is inoperable, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy (ongoing). He has been…

Faye H.

Faye...is an inspiration to many and does not even know it. Faye had breast cancer nine years ago. Faye dealt with this situation with a great deal of dignity. She was strong for her family and herself. She was back to work three weeks after having 23 lymph nodes removed. She has taught me a great deal in my 35…

Lisa H.

My hero is the most passionate person I have ever met. She is the embodiment of "Do what you love, love what you do." She is a person of greatness...someone I can only hope to be like someday. Lisa is a record holding high school and college athlete and coach. Her story lies in her unbelievable selflessness and compassion. Her…

Bob B.

As a young boy, I was quite lonely. Although I had a wonderful mother and a great 'big' sister, I didn't have a dad. My true father died when I was two.\r\n\r\nHowever, a wonderful person came into my life when I was about 5 or 6. He was a young guy of about 19 and he worked in the hardware…

Rg P.

My father is my hero...not because he is my father but because he has battled cancer ever since 2002. He just completed his 50 year anniversary at the only job he has ever known. He is still battling cancer but I see him every day working and fighting to beat this cancer with every bit of his being. I am…

Nick P.

On February 5th, 2003 my cousin Nick, who was 14 at the time, went with his ski club to have a fun afternoon snowboarding. What started out as a fun afternoon quickly turned into a tragic accident as Nick went off an icy jump, not wearing a helmet. He came down on his neck and immediately went unconscious. His friends…

Taylor

"A song for a heart so big, God wouldn't let it live."\r\n-Jimmy Eat World, "Hear You Me"\r\n\r\nI grew up with Taylor. He came to my fifth birthday party, and was constantly a visitor at our house. There where always whispers, talk of something bad that us children could never quite understand, not until many years later. We knew he was…

My Friend

In my late 30's a friend of mine died of cancer. She fought for 6 years and suffered through numerous treatments. In my late forties I was told I had cancer. For two weeks I kept it to myself. I had decided not to fight it. I told no one. \r\n\r\nOne night while chatting with a friend on line I…

Coach P.

Coach P is rough around the edges. He growls when he speaks and he is constantly yelling on the football field. He is hardest on me though. I always thought that it was because I was his son when in reality it was because he always knew how good I could be. \r\n\r\nThere were times when quitting would have been…

Gabriel W.

One of my heroes is my 9 year-old son, Gabriel. Gabriel was born 11 weeks early along with his twin brother. Both were unable to breathe very long on their own and needed respiratory support in the neonatal intensive care unit. Gabriel's brother recovered quickly and soon was home with his family. But Gabriel's airway was damaged by the ventilator…

David L.

My hero, David L., is 61 years old now. He has stuttered since he was a baby and many thought he was mentally retarded. An IQ test as child showed that he had an IQ of 140. He was the butt of everyone's jokes in high school. He never had the love of his father and lost a job just…

John H.

This is my father. I am sure that all children think that their father is their hero but mine is extraordinary. When I was two years old, in 1963, my mother died of bone cancer. She left my father not only heartbroken but the father of five children. My extended family rallied together and made the decision that the children…

Vicky S.

My hero is my wife, Vicky. On August 26th, 1984 at 8:00 pm sharp, we were seating on a park bench across from our local church. We were both 15 years old. Vicky was nervous but not even close to how nervous I was: I was about to ask her out for the first time.\r\n\r\nI joined the military academy in…

American Red Cross

I spent the last 2 weeks serving on the disaster relief operation for Hurricane Ike. While this is not my first with the ARC, I stand in awe of the tireless dedication of many other volunteers. \r\n\r\nSome of these have spent a significant portion of their life serving their country in times of disaster. One such gentlemen was on his…

Monte R.

My husband is my hero. We married in 1991. We had nothing but happiness and love for one another. After a few years of working different jobs, my husband decided we needed to do more to be successful and achieve our goals. In 1998, he decided to go to college, get a degree, and find a job that he enjoyed…

Walker O.

He started skating about three or four years ago. He is now indeed "The Bomb."\r\n\r\nHe suffered a head injury but came right back up and got back on the board after he recovered,Of course with a helmet. And is now supported by original clothing and is the best skater I know.\r\nBut what I am trying to get to is that…

Joyce M.

When I was twelve, mom became a single parent and raised my sister and I completely by herself. As the daughter of an Appalachian brick mason (and one of seven children), my mother was no stranger to tough and meager times. How she managed to keep us in stylish clothes, Nike's and well fed on a modest income of near…

Ashley L.

My hero is my sister, Ashley. From the moment I was born she has set a good example for me and has shown me how to do the right thing. She cares about my family and others a lot and is great at showing compassion and reaching out to those in need. She has followed through with her goals and…

Brandyn G.

My hero is my brother. Although he is no longer alive he is still my hero. He wasn't my real brother, he was actually my foster brother but he treated me as if I was his 'real' sister all the same. He passed away at the age of seventeen. At the time he was working a full time job and…

Tam L.

Tam is a refugee survivor who traveled across the ocean to get to safety. He first landed in Thailand, then Cambodia. Tam then later migrated to the USA. He worked hard as a bus boy and had only a bicycle as a means of transportation to and from both work and school. When Tam first arrived here he did not…

Ramon R.

Ramon Ramos is a retired National Basketball Association player originally from Puerto Rican. He studied in Puerto Rico at Colegio San Jose and in the United States at Seton Hall where he is now a basketball legend. \r\n\r\nRamos began to play in 1985 for the Indios de Canovanas franchise. At first he sat the bench but eventually he became one…

Larry S.

Larry is a resident in Greenwich Village and he spends almost all of his day collecting money for various causes and organizations; for example, The Fight Against AIDS. He does all of this despite his mild mental retardation.\r\n\r\nLarry has raised over $10,000 for local charities over the years. Larry is very persistent. When he goes to the doctor for a…

Margina S.

My mother is my hero as well as my best friend. She cheers me on when no one else is there. She also encourages me when I feel like giving up. She is a fabulous person and she always helps me learn new things.\r\n\r\nShes my best friend because she doesn't stay inside and watch TV, instead she comes outside and…

Roberta S.

This is a story about my Aunt Bobby. She was the most loved person I ever knew. As a boy I remember visiting her and her husband Bob, son Randy and daughter Patty at their Gross Pointe home in Michigan. I arrived one summer after school had let out. I found a family filled with love and a home that…

Fred M.

In Uganda, AIDS orphans and abused children take the streets of cities, hoping to find enough to eat by begging, stealing and searching the garbage dumps. Fred is a college student in Jinja who likes to play tennis and listen to music...and to save street kids in his spare time. \r\n\r\nOnce a month, he gives over 100 kids a bath,…

Phoenix And Talia D.

On October 15, 2003, I received a call from my wife that she was getting ready to have an emergency C-section. She had gone in for a normal prenatal check up and was told that the baby was breech and they needed to take him. I immediately left work facing a 2 1/2 hour drive in which time I had…

Naomi D.

My hero is a girl I know at work. She started there about 6 months ago after being out of work for over a year. She has some developmental and learning differences that make it hard for her to do math and cash registers, so she couldn't get hired in a lot of places, particularly in retail. But she's told…

Cherry B.

Cherry is my hero. She lives each day not knowing if it will be her last. She fought breast cancer twice and had a breast removed. Now she is fighting liver cancer. She has done most all of the treatments out there. Her body is so weak, some days she can't raise her head. Her husband works so that they…

Wanda M.

My mother has been there through thick and thin. She was a single mother of me and my big sister. Working hard and still showing us great values. Then she re-married and had my baby sister. It was really rough for the family to go through so much change. I wanted to run away from everything that was happening around…

David H.

My hero is my husband. He had a liver transplant and never let it keep him from going to church and enjoying life. Now he has colon cancer and he has to wear a "pouch" for the rest of his life. Yet, he doesn't let that stop him from doing what he wants to do. Next month the doctors at…

Cathy K.

My hero is my mother. I know everyday I wake up that each day above ground is a good day. My mother has had Hodgkin's Disease & just recently overcame Breast Cancer. My mother works a full time job, even through radiation treatments, is always there when people need her & never lets the world bring her down. She is…

Ashley U.

The day Ashley was born 19 years ago, doctors told us she wouldn't be able to do much. Well, I am so pleased to say how wrong the doctors were! My beautiful daughter, Ashley, was born with Down Syndrome and can do anything and everything! This past year I have been diagnosed with a very debilitating disease, and Ashley has…

Judith C.

My hero is my wife. At 67, she has endured 17 years of constant struggle with Parkinson's disease. In all these years I never heard her complain. Using everything medicine has to offer, plus some homeopathic measures, she has managed to overcome many of the worst Parkinson's perils. With her quiet nature and good mannerism, she drove Parkinson's out of…

Fanny Balseca

My mother is my hero. She overcame depression, addiction to pain killers, and anxiety. She did this all for the love of her four precious daughters. She is more than a conqueror and she is full of life. This year, she celebrates her 70th birthday. All her friends will be present and so will her daughters and grandchildren. We love…

Vicki S.

My hero is my mom. When I was in the 4th grade, she suffered a grand maul seizure and survived. Since then, she has undergone brain surgery, medication, and is currently living with no medication because our family can't afford it. She never complains though she lives in pain. She is a mother to me a fantastic wife to my…

Jim M.

My dad is 81 years old and is a true hero. He has lost sight in one eye and hearing in one ear due to earlier medical conditions. And now fights daily against Parkinson's disease that is trying to take over his body. Dad gets up every morning to spend his day working in his yard and garden. He says…

Zachary U.

Zachary is my nephew and my hero. He has Cerebral Palsy and so do I. When I discovered that Zac had this condition I cried. My mother sat beside me and said that Zachary was not going to have my life. The medical technology and research that wasn't available to me would be for him. She then told me that…

Petrina W.

Petrina came from a less then advantaged life and during her childhood and teenage years made choices that would seemed to have ruined her life, at best. She decided to take control of her life and change for the better. Petrina is now a wonderful mother, wife and Christian with a heart to help others. She gives of herself to…

Dale D.

Dale was in the army during the first Gulf War. He was on the front lines. He doesn't talk much about what he did. When he got back he got married. In less than a year from getting married he was told he had MS. He is now 37 and fully disabled from the MS. They have determined the war…

Kylyn S.

Born at 2 lbs. 10 oz. she came into the world tiny, yet strong. At the age of 4 she witnessed her father do horrible things... threatening to take my life and hers. We lived in hiding for 2 years, supported by family and friends through a network of caring people. She will be 7 on April Fools 2011 and…

Reese W.

My cousin Reese is my hero because of her determination, stubbornness, and will to get out of that hospital bed and into her wheelchair. From the chair to her knees. From her knees to her walker. From her walker to her cane. And someday from her cane to her feet. With perseverance, I know she can do it. I love…

John S.

My hero changes my life every day. My hero always loves me, cares for me, nurtures our relationship, helps me be the best "me" I can be. My hero is my big brother. He was born physically challenged but that did not stop him from being the best man I know. When he rolls into a room, everyone smiles! Those…

Joannie R.

Joannie R. is my hero because to me, she represents what it means to be a great Canadian. She has pride in her country and isn't scared to be proud of her roots and where she came from. I believe this is a great quality for a person to have because it shows that she has values and integrity in…

Oscar B.

My hero is my dad. I'm only 19 years old, he's 64 with stage 3 lung cancer. He was never a smoker, and I wish this hadn't happened to him. I'm so worried he won't make it through. He's my hero because he's a fighter. He doesn't stand down from anything. He was in the army, and survived that, married…

Vangie S.

My Mother is my hero. As a child, she and her family worked as migrant farm workers. My mother worked hard to make a better life for herself and her family. She raised four children with lots of love and support and taught us all to be compassionate by example.

David L.

My father died of lung, brain, and adrenal gland cancer. He battled an addiction to alcohol. He endured abuse from his adopted mother and father. He had one divorce, married my mother, and had two children. He quit drinking when we were young and tried to do everything he could do as a father.

Kym G.

My hero is my own mother. She has been through so much. From child abuse, to beyond belief. She still is working hard to keep herself in the right state of mind. When things go wrong, she is always there to make things right. When I was little, I always wanted to be just like her. I still do. She's…

Travis F.

Even though my brother is ten years older than myself and he moved out when I was only seven, his presence in my life has made me a better person. Travis was put down many times in life but he always fought back. When my family was going through a very tough time it was Travis that pulled us through.…

Keith C.

Many people call him an old soul even though he is only 26. He has the wisdom and values that so many have turned from. He knows that what's inside is much more important than the outside. He is the true "southern gentleman" that I named him. He has had to fight for his education all the way through, from…

Alan P.

Alan Page is my hero because he managed to transcend defeat and grow from from one world class career achievement to another. Alan was the brilliant and speedy Hall of Fame Defensive Tackle for the Minnesota Vikings who, when interviewed after one of his 4 Super Bowl loses, recognized his success in playing hard and well was even more important…

Melanie T.

Melanie is a determined force of love. She knows what she wants and does not stop until she's won. Being the exact opposite of me as I always quit when things get tough. She became my hero when she was in a car accident and broke her ankle in several pieces. As she was a dancer, she was at risk…

Isabelle S.

My daughter is my hero. She has a very strong spirit. She was born with many neurological problems. We were told that she would not live a day, week, month or a year. The doctors were not certain on her future. She is 14 now, she can communicate quite well, knows what she wants, very stubborn and opinionated! She is…

Marcus T.

Marcus is my hero because he didn't let a disability stop him . He became great in his NEW career. He never gives up! Oh, to have the patience he has. And what talent! I can't praise him enough and stand in awe of his achievements.

Joyce S.

My mother is 109 pounds of pure heart. She has been through so much in her life. She lost her first husband, my father, to adultery. She doesn't talk about it much, but I'm sure it hurt her very much. Through the years since divorcing my dad, mom had very little help from him financially. He was involved very little.…

Lydia A.

Lydia is a 17 year old student from RJC. Her parents had passed away when she was 5 and ever since, she had to live with a torturous family that her parents sold her to before they died. Her foster parents raised her unlike a normal daughter. Though they fed her, sheltered her, and managed her needs, they treated her…

Wendy B.

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 13 years ago. This past April I was the first person with MS to stand on top of the world, The North Pole. I have climbed 6 of the "Seven Summits" having attempted Everest twice in 2009 and again in 2010 only to have the disease I try so hard to push back at…

Barbara P.

Barbara was so young when she fell in love. She was 14 to be exact. Yes, so deep in love she fell with a man, whom she would stay with for the rest of her life. So she thought. After the death of both of her parents, Barbara had 3 children with the love of her life. Her eldest child…

Howard M.

My husband was born premature, as a infant blind in a incubator, at the hands of doctors and nurses. The oxygen burned his retinas. Since then he has overcome physical abuse and had left a blind school at 17. He got the skill of piano tuning and has tuned for 40 years. We have been married for 28 years.

Scott S.

Scott Shockley is a senior at my K-12 school. He was a multi-sport athlete in his junior year. In the middle of the baseball season, he got cancer in his leg. He went through months of chemotherapy and has not let his cancer slow him down. He comes to support our school at many different sporting events. Though he can…

Harold L.

He was the youngest in the United States to be diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was 23 years old. He is still going strong today, 28 years with a no cure disease. He was given only 3 to 5 years to live when diagnosed in 1983. He is my hero, my brother Harold. He continues to tell others about…

Walt D.

Leaving New York with no source of income, Walt Disney boarded a train to the West coast via Kansas City where he once housed a mouse named Mortimer. Always the optimist, Mr. Disney thus created another optimist, a mouse named Mickey. The two, never say die characters, "worked" together to create the foundation of a magical company that today reaches…

Crystal R.

At age 27 Crystal R., an architect, was diagnosed with AML Leukemia. During her treatments she constantly used an architect's perspective to see how the medical facilities could be improved. A year after being declared cancer-free, she is back to work, designing state-of-the-art cancer research centers and labs. She has a unique perspective that other architects don't have, and has…

Norman V.

My Dad has been the pillar of life success throughout my thirty three years. My Dad worked as a cleaning man for over twenty years. Having only a ninth grade education, he is my Lawyer. Amazingly he petitioned a six hundred page file for me to come back to the U.S. after being deported. He was told by many, so…

Tom Y.

My Dad is my hero! He has been a fighter his whole life! He fought the disease of alcoholism and is still winning 30 some years later! He tackled smoking, he got his college degree and was always at dinner by 5 for my brother and I while we were growing up. He has been battling colon cancer for some…

Elizabeth H.

My sister is my "big" sister Elizabeth. She is 65 now, and I am 56. She married the love of her life, 43 years ago. They always worked hard, earned everything they had, and always had time or money to give to others. She was diagnosed with Cardio Myopothy and kidney disease 10 years ago. 5 years ago, her husband…

Jeff M.

My husband is a hero of perseverance and persistence. After suddenly losing his wife of 22 years he refused to succumb to the grief that overwhelmed him. He forced himself to move forward and continued living life without self-pity. A year later while on holiday in Greece we met and fell in love instantly, marrying a year later. Soon thereafter…

Kaelyn G.

Kaelyn was born in May 2004, and for the first week of her life, everything was perfect. That all changed when she was 8 days old. All day, Kaelyn seemed very weak and after not eating anything for nine hours we knew that something was very wrong. We rushed Kaelyn to the ER, and that night changed our lives forever.…

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The Foundation for a Better Life began as a simple idea to promote positive values. We believe that people are basically good and just need a reminder. And that the values we live by are worth more when we pass them on.

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