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My beautiful boy Nicholas was born at 32 weeks. A normal pregnancy is 40. Even though he was not that early he only weighed 2 pounds 4 ounces. Other than being little he was perfect. Then 10 days later tragedy hit. He had Necrotizing Enterocolitis which is a gastrointestinal disease that mostly affects premature infants. NEC involves infection and inflammation…
Read MoreI would like to nominate my dad as a hero. He lives across the country from me and my husband, but is never more than a phone call or email away. My husband and I live in beautiful Colorado where the mountains have become our backyard and playground. From time to time I find myself faced with having to do…
Read MoreMr. W. was my P.E. teacher and basketball coach. When he arrived at my school, I was going into year 9 and heavily lacking direction. I was part of a big social group which involved a lot of mischief and I was easily lead into situations that would get me into a lot of trouble. one day, when we were…
Read MoreSam R. is a wonderful person. I have only known her for 5 years and she has matured in many ways. Sam grew up on a farm, and for the first 6 years of her life, she was home schooled. Now, at a prestigious private school, Sam still loves the freedom she experiences when she is at home. Being an…
Read MoreJessie S. I can't really describe her in a paragraph. She is one of the most influential and wonderful people in my life. Jessie is kind, thoughtful and an all-around pleasure to be with. She has an awesome character and strives to do well in every aspect of what she does. She is always cheerful and full of life. Jessie…
Read MoreEthel is my aunt by marriage; she is my husband's aunt. \r\n\r\nShe has always treated me as someone special, and her kind and loving words have meant the world to me…Those words are what keep me going. \r\n\r\nI never have to do anything to hear her kind words, she just often tells me that I am her most favorite person…
Read MoreDon G., my hero, was a college instructor when I was a freshman in college. Although he did not know me before I was in his speech class, he learned a bit about my interest in radio broadcasting and offered me an opportunity to start, build and eventually manage our college radio station. He gave me the break in life,;…
Read MoreShe 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…
Read MoreCliff 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…
Read MoreJavier 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…
Read MoreMrs. Attaway teaches pre-algebra and algebra at a local middle school in my town and has taught thousands of students. Sure, she teaches the material that is required by law and makes sure that her students understand that material, but she does so much more than that. First of all, hardly anyone understands math so she teaches the material in…
Read MoreMy mother is my hero. She saved me from dying when I was 8 years old. She pushed me out of the way of a speeding car and died saving me. She was only 28 years old. Out of respect and honor for my mom I went to college and got my masters degree in real estate. Now I'm 28…
Read MoreMy hero is my husband. He is a peace pilgrim. He has never missed a day of work in his life. He has only ever had three jobs. He loves me, even when I am unloveable. He considers my son to be his son and raised my son to be like him. He is the most moral, ethical, intelligent man…
Read MoreMy 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…
Read MoreMy hero is a man named Henry. He has always been the one I can run to in times of need. He has shown me that a father is someone who you can trust and rely on, not necessarily one who helped create you. My mom died unexpectedly when I barely turned 13, and my biological dad has never really…
Read MoreAs 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…
Read MoreFour days a week in Hutchinson, Kansas a miracle happens: 200-300 people eat a hot meal. The miracle worker is an unassuming woman named Stanley M. who operates the Christian Soup Ministry. For close to 20 years she's never missed a scheduled day, never run out of food, never turned anyone away…and never accepted so much as a penny of…
Read MoreI'm the executive director of Napa Valley Community Housing, a non-profit that develops and manages housing for low and very-low income residents. These people are my heroes.\r\n\r\nMost of them are uneducated; many to not speak English and almost all of them make $9-$12 an hour. Yet, they work hard every day in restaurants, vineyards, and hotels to make a better…
Read MoreMy hero is Gene W. Gene has started more than a dozen companies in his lifetime. He started out working in the laser industry when it was still in its infancy in the 1940s. In his early days in Silicon Valley he often associated with pioneers of the era like Dave Packard and Bell Hewlett. Dave Packard in particular, was…
Read MoreWhat started as a job offer in the medical examiner/coroner's office turned into a life changing event for a single mother of four children.\r\n\r\nDr. T. was a leading national pathologist who worked on many notorious forensic cases with the likes of Henry Lu and Michael Boden. But what he was most was a very compassionate human being. The father of…
Read MoreThis is about my baby sister, Phyllis W. \r\n\r\nThe youngest of nine children, she was the epitome of the baby in our family. Everyone looked out for her, especially me. We were the closest in age and also best friends. At the age of 35, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 4. She had two small children and was…
Read MoreMy hero, Vivian R., died last July of breast cancer. An older African American woman who never married or had any children, she devoted her life to helping others. I was fortunate enough to have known her for the past 30 years. Since she hired me as young 20 something year old working in the aging field. We came from…
Read MoreRich F. was a volunteer fire fighter and Prince George's County Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty on June 27, 2008. Rich was dedicated to his wife, their two small children, and to serving his community. He lived his life with purpose and service. He could always make you smile with his positive attitude. If you…
Read MoreMy hero is a person who always puts others before himself. He is always faithful to anything he undertakes and always willing to lend a helping hand. His word is his bond. He always goes above and beyond the call of duty. He works in Human Resources. He gives 110 percent to the project. He is always going the extra…
Read MoreDeanna McLemore, my mother, has given selflessly to our small farm community for over 45 years. As a nurse she has touched the lives of most families in the county, either caring for their elderly parents, their children, or anyone in between. She has given up time on the weekends and in the evenings, always off the clock, to go…
Read MoreMs. G. teaches everyone to love who they are and she has never judged anyone. She is a very talented teacher and mentor. Ms. G. is not afraid to do anything. She's always willing to defeat fear. \r\n\r\nShe's always there for anyone who needs to talk. And she's always willing to give another chance. She truly wants everyone to get…
Read MoreMy daddy is my hero. I think he is the best dad in the world. An example of this would be the first time I rode a bike: Crash Boom Bang! I had a very bad wreck! He hustled to me into the house at a very high speed and totally took care of me. He picked me up and…
Read MoreKen has taught me a lot. He has taught me to have a positive attitude, to never give up, and to work for everything. Kevin is the Principle at my middle school. He has encouraged us to Watch the Foundation for a Better Life videos everyday in advisory. He also has made my life easier from the first day I…
Read MoreWhen 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…
Read MoreHe has been my best friend since fourth grade and has always stuck up for me. He makes me laugh when I am in the worst mood. He makes the unpopular kids at school feel like they are really important. I wish I could strive to be more like A.J. because he has really made a difference in many people's…
Read MoreCheryl is my mother. She has always been there for me, supporting me in everything I do. She is just a great and loving mom. One day i want to be like her. I love my mom.
Read MoreMonte R. is my dad and he has made a huge difference in the first 13 years of my life. He has helped me throughout life and through hard ships. He has never given up on me and has always done what is best for me. If I were to pick anybody to be my hero and help in the…
Read MoreMy 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…
Read MoreMy 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…
Read MoreI have never have met Colin at all or even talked to him but I heard about his story. Colin died in a car accident on January 20th, 2006. After his death people started to come forward with stories about how he quietly performed small acts of courage which saved their lives, the lives of friends, and the lives of…
Read MoreMy 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…
Read MoreMy hero is my older sister Erica. She has always been there for me when I needed someone to talk to, and she is like a second mother to me. If there is ever something that I can't tell my Mom, I go to Erica because I know that I can trust and confide in her with my secrets and…
Read MoreMy hero is my father. My mother left my father when my two brothers and I were very little. My father single handedly raised all three of us and put us through four years of college. Today, we are all successful career oriented individuals who have him to thank. He has provided me with the courage to face anything without…
Read MoreMy hero's name is Cassidy, but I rarely call her that. I call her Marty because she has eyes like Marty Feldman, but only when she puts stress on them to make me laugh. She will do anything to make someone laugh and make the people around her happy. She is absolutely hilarious. I can go to her crying my…
Read MoreMy 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…
Read MoreMy grandmother, Elizabeth, is my hero. She has taught me to never give up on my dreams or myself and has always been there for me when times have been tough. \r\n\r\nAs my husband and I continue our journey to try once again to become parents, I am inspired and motivated by the dedication she had in this same process.…
Read MoreMy cat, Tamy Sue, is my hero. I rescued her from an animal shelter ten and a half years ago, but in reality, she rescued me. I was very ill when I adopted Tamy Sue, and she has been there for me through thick and thin when no friends could be found. When she first came into my life I…
Read MoreMy hero is my Grandfather. He was by far the sweetest man I have ever known, and would do anything to protect his family. He served in WWII and in the Korean War with the Navy, and he never stopped believing in me, (even when everyone else in my life had). He passed on in January of 2009, and every…
Read MoreI have lived my life with one of the lessons taught to me early in life. That is good sportsmanship. My grade 6 teacher was full of that and he passed it on with his passion for his students. When I look back, I feel very honored to have had such a passionate teacher. I would like to take this…
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