1 Paula mailstuff1@yahoo.com 1 2009-08-21T19:39:10-06:00 Kenda 2686 N 570 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 Group which is a professional contemporary touring dance company, a professional herself for over 29 years, created this program for these particular individuals in order to provide artistic physical activity, movement, expression and dance to them. Participants and parents gain friends, interaction and integration, physical fitness, and higher self-esteem. They also gain incredible exposure to classical and contemporary dance styles taught in a dance classroom as well as outstanding performing opportunities. Kenda has written grants, given her time and done more the past 4 years for our children than anyone I know - to see my child up on stage alongside a professional dancer is an emotion I cannot describe. Kenda has brought so much to my family; she is my hero. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Tucson USA 2006-08-28T07:52:32-06:00 Anna and Lawrence 42 T. 37 Arizona 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 for five kids, all of whom are successful today. They taught us to think, aim high and value education in every form. They are not perfect people but they strived for perfection in their love for their children and commitment to succeed when odds were very much against them. Fate, chemistry and strength of will and spirit were the genesis of our family. I understand, now, what they overcame to make it and I am humbled. My hope is that my brothers and sisters and our children will honor their sacrifice by embracing quality of life and giving of ourselves for the good of family & country. I remain forever in their debt. 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 USA 2006-08-29T06:35:46-06:00 John 189 H. 183 Illinois 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 would visit Grandpa, and he would try to speak. I am the only one who could understand him. He could not speak, but we communicated through gestures and movements that he could make with one arm. He always listened to the St. Louis Cardinals ball games and smiled when they scored. Before I'd leave, he'd give me a tight hand squeeze, and then a facial expression as if to say, "Oh, I didn't hurt you, did I?" Day after day for 57 years he sat looking out his window and listening to the ball game. He became my hero because his heart was always joyful, even under circumstances that would probably make the average person grumpy and depressed. My hero: my grandpa. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Singapore 2006-08-29T06:38:22-06:00 Xavier 190 C. 184 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 strongly in himself and his principles and beliefs in life. A man of high esteem in life yet he went through a period in time when he was really struggling to make ends meet and so he persevered and finally today he holds a stable job. In my eyes, and through all the years to come, I will always cherish this person in my life even more than my own father. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Savona USA 2006-08-29T06:39:50-06:00 Vincent 191 C. 185 New York 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 everyone that he would be alright. While laying there, he was keeping everyone else going. After numerous surgeries and an extensive stay in the hospital, he is home doing his own style of recovery, which is driving (automatic) and continuing to live his life as he always did before. My nephew is an inspiration to all of us. He never gave up hope, his character for perseverance and determination has shown through in everything he does and still attempts to do. In a week he will have his prosthetic leg and he continuously amazes all of us with what would have held so many people back. My nephew is my hero, he always reminds me that anyone can rise above and through determination and belief in yourself, be anything that you want to be. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Indiana 2006-08-29T06:41:11-06:00 Larry 192 V. 186 Indianapolis 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 the importance in community involvement in economic development and quality of life issues. A dedicated volunteer, Larry has compassionately provided his community his heart and soul. He is an avid sailor, and has crossed the globe in search of understanding of himself and man's desire to persevere. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Brandon Canada 2006-08-29T06:44:20-06:00 Lori-Ann Cheryl 194 M. 188 Manitoba 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 that my mom went back and got her GED, and followed it up with a Child Psychology degree. I remember my mom dropping me off at junior high and heading to her university classes. I was blessed by her example, she loved me and she fought for me, often working two jobs while raising a young boy alone. I always had everything I could have needed although you can be assured it was rarely easy for her. I was old enough and lucky enough to see my mom graduate from university. Somehow my mom managed to make it through all the adversity in her life and still come out on top. She is the biggest reason why no matter how many times I get knocked down in life, I have an indescribable desire to get back up and take it head on. Her model of love and self-sacrifice was what shaped me into being the man I am today. And have been able to give back in some small way what I received. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Zachary USA 2006-08-29T06:47:12-06:00 Rouney 196 P. 190 Louisiana 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 be strong and find acceptance of her passing. This man is my Daddy, my mentor, and my best friend. His compassion and love for his family, and friends as well, extends far beyond their expectations of him. He is selfless, understanding, committed and loyal to any person within his path. And his only hope is to be loved and respected and remembered by his children when he leaves this world. This man is not only my hero, he is and has been a hero to so many others. He never ceases to amaze me in his tolerance of being hurt by others, he always "turns the other cheek" and moves on continuing to give blessings to others. He is my guiding angel here on earth. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 USA 2006-08-29T06:48:23-06:00 Employees of North Arkansas Electric 197 191 Arkansas 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, over time, have become more like family than co-workers. The loss was immeasurable; the pain still leaves us speechless. Our hearts and lives will never be the same - we will always bear the scars - and yet, we have kept on. Our perseverance is not borne of our own strength but of what our comrades left behind - we know they wouldn't have it any other way. So day in, day out, our office workers and linemen go on, serving the community as we always have...because that is what they would want us to do. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Naperville USA 2006-08-29T06:50:20-06:00 Evonne 198 W. 192 Illinois 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 income, Black neighborhood where there wasn't much expected from the people who lived there. My mom leads by example. She is a great mother, wife, daughter and friend. No matter when I've needed my mom, she has always been there. I see my mom and I find someone whom I want to be like, even though I am now 29 years of age. My mother had to overcome the obstacles of poverty and child abuse. Instead of becoming a statistic, my mother persevered and used these instances to become a great person and to help others. My mom is a nurse who has spearheaded special programs for the city of Chicago that reach out to women, minority at-risk moms and their babies. She is also the co-pastor of our church. She uses endurance, love and dedication to not just brighten the lives of others, but to change them as well. I want to thank my mom for being a beacon of light in my life. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 San Diego USA 2006-08-29T06:57:37-06:00 Cliff 199 M. 193 California 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 legs. Fifteen surgeries later, doctors told him that he would never walk again. Cliff took that statement as a challenge. He began a regimen of weight-lifting, swimming and outrigger canoe paddling. His coach had to carry him to the canoe. After almost four years of determination, Cliff was able to walk again. He didn't stop there.\r\n\r\nIn 1993, Cliff was able to qualify for the U.S. Kayak Nationals. Two years later, at the Denver Olympic Festival, Cliff won gold, silver and bronze medals. In 1996, he made the U.S. Olympic Team.\r\n\r\nCliff also qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Two days before the Opening Ceremonies, he learned that he had been chosen as the one to carry the flag into the stadium. It is one of the highest honors for an American athlete. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Alton USA 2006-08-29T06:58:44-06:00 Barbara 200 S. 194 Illinois 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 perfect example of living your life to the fullest and overcoming adversity. Her life is an example of this. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Boston USA 2006-08-29T08:53:58-06:00 Maida 213 A. 207 Massachusetts 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 me with the best education and the best life we could ever have. When we first came to America, she worked incredibly hard at learning English and at her job. She instilled in my brother and me the value of education and provided us with every possible opportunity she could. In the face of war, a disability and a language barrier she persevered. I am in my second year of law school now and I know that without my mom's sacrifice none of this would ever be possible. She is a true hero. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Chicago USA 2007-04-08T14:26:20-06:00 Bryant 281 L 258 Illinois 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 excelled in school. He graduated from high school in 1992 with a 3.8 GPA. Right after high school he served for 4 years in the military. Somehow, he loved his great country so much that he decided to serve it even when it had challenged him so much. He came back a stronger leader and did not waste any time before continuing his education. That same year his hard work paid off when he was accepted into the prestigious University of Chicago. He graduated with an impressive 3.1 GPA and is currently employed by one of the regions top research centers. While paying off his substantial student loans, he managed to move his mother and grandmother out of the housing projects. In short, Bryant is an amazing, determined, and inspirational person who never let the hand life dealt him stop him from becoming who he is…A hero. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Baumholder, Germany (stationed in Army) U.S.A. 2007-06-12T02:57:46-06:00 Carter 333 S 277 From 2 states- CA & KY 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 for all\r\nBreathlessly regrouping, searching, finding...capture\r\nCountless suffering desires from the battle torn streets...call \r\n\r\nTo guide and maneuver, to believe in your own\r\nGiving all that's required, then more, for the mission\r\nMaking the most of possibilities for all to go home\r\n \r\nTo finish there, and turn your heart to hear the sound\r\nYour mother's call, son? Can you now come home?\r\nTo the rolling Kentucky hills, to the quiet of a small town\r\n \r\nTo comfort you in love, to hold you in my arms\r\nSleeping in silence, waking to a clean slate, clear sky blue day\r\nNo rumble of artiliary, just suburban homes, and farms\r\n \r\nTo the country you've protected, our flag flying high\r\nJust being the All-American, enjoying your life's script\r\nAnd from your growing years, to San Diego we'll fly.\r\n \r\nTo you we call, come to all that is your homeland\r\nLand that is gentle green, filled with southern style ways, & from\r\nLand, rocky, with crashing waves, calling the boy to come back as a Man. \r\n \r\n \r\nI LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART, ALWAYS, Mom\r\n \r\n\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Spring USA 2007-06-15T12:55:38-06:00 Jody 336 H 278 Texas 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 determined, passionate, and willing to do anything to achieve our goals.\r\n\r\n\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Greenwood United States 2007-06-25T14:29:54-06:00 Isaias 343 G 280 Indiana 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 them that if they stay in school, they WILL get into college. By volunteering and getting good grades, they CAN have a future. If they do these things, they can get scholarships and they can achieve the dream that they and their parents have: to go to college, and to have a better life. When Isaias is at home, he tells me to keep up my good grades and start thinking about my future. If Isaias weren’t here by my side, I don’t know if I would have become the person I am now. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Troy United States 2007-07-01T06:54:18-06:00 Jason 346 W 281 Pennsylvania 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 think how he went from the verge of independence: graduating from college… To total dependence…To a young man determined to find his old "self." He is my inspiration for life.\r\n\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Lempster United States 2007-07-20T07:27:22-06:00 Nancy (Mom) 357 R 284 New Hampshire 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 strength from my mother. She was always there for me growing up and continues to be here for me, even today. Whenever I awoke from an operation she was there at my bedside with a gentle touch and a warm smile that would light up the entire hospital. It was through her that I gained the courage to fight for my life and if there was one person I would like to be most like it would be her. Her strength, her spirit, her love and her understanding are all traits that I feel all humanity could benefit from and the world is a better place having her in it. I love you Mom! 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Huntsville USA 2007-08-04T15:27:39-06:00 Chris 365 H. 286 Alabama 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 be revived. Chris underwent 18 surgeries over the next few months. He could not breathe on his own, speak, swallow, feel, or move. Throughout it all he had faith and peace and hope. Chris has never been angry or depressed. He has come a long way in the last year and nine months. He received help from many doctors, therapists, friends, and above all his wife Brenda, who is his 24/7 caretaker and a hero herself. His days are full, with almost everything being done for him. He is able to move his arm and hands some. He now has a voice activated computer and will soon have a voice activated phone. Chris is a spokesman for MADD. He speaks to people who have been convicted of drunk driving. He makes an impression on these folks, just as he does on everyone who has the privilege of meeting him. \r\n\r\nWe go to his house to help Chris, yet we are the ones that are blessed. He is an inspiration and a hero. He appreciates every little thing anyone does for him and never, ever fails to say thank you. He is totally at peace, even after all he's been through and the tough times he still has. I am proud to know and be a friend of this incredible man.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Minden USA 2007-08-31T13:58:10-06:00 Nicole 374 D 287 Nevada 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 fascinating world we live in. She has inspired me to pursue some sort of degree in History as well as to travel the world one day. Also, she believes in me, which has helped me with my own self confidence issues. She truly is the kindest person I have ever met.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, she is incredibly positive and dedicated. Her motto is, "Carpe Diem," a phrase that I didn't know of or understand until she said it one day. She truly seizes the day by genuinely enjoying life. Last year, she traveled the country with her husband and son, living each day fully, and finding adventure around every corner. Always, she stresses quality over quantity, which means it's better to have a few, valuable, refreshing activities rather then a ton of weighty, time-consuming activities that seem to suck sanity out of people (including myself at times). She is very enlightened and wise, and she has the amazing trait of calmness in chaos. Even when the world around her is going crazy, she can calmly continue her day, taking each task one at a time.\r\n \r\nShe taught me some of her skills during my own times of chaos. She taught me to accept the fact that I'm not perfect and to know when it's OK to cut corners (such as a very stressful time). She taught me to the value of little things in life, such as a shiny penny, a smile, a piece of chocolate, and sticky-tack. She taught me the importance of living life the fullest, or we’ll miss the really valuable stuff, like life experiences (currently unavailable in book form). She taught me how to become more positive by making a “positive book” filled with happy quotes and joyous memories. She taught me the value of friendship by being my friend.\r\n\r\nBasically, her inspiring actions and her “Philosophy Sermons” have been indispensable in my life. I really look up to her, she is my hero. And she has and always will be an inspiration to all she meets.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Nashville USA 2007-09-29T12:38:38-06:00 Frederick 392 O 290 TN 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 first 5 months of operation, over 5,000 patients have been seen. \r\n\r\nMany women and children who would otherwise have to travel many kilometers away to seek healthcare can now get care in the village where Frederick has established this clinic. In 2008, the clinic will start providing antiretrovirals to the people of Lwala and its surrounding villages. \r\n\r\nFred himself is an AIDS orphan, having lost both of his parents to AIDS. His father, who always dreamed of having a clinic in the village, died a couple weeks before the groundbreaking ceremony of the clinic. \r\n\r\nThe story of Fred and his brothers has been widely shared. Fred's story is one of resilience in the face of AIDS and shows the power of young Africans to make a difference in the lives of fellow Africans. \r\n\r\nAll of Frederick’s hard work has been completely voluntary. For years he has been going out of his way to make a difference in the lives of the people of Lwala: the children, the women and the AIDS patients. For his tireless efforts, Fred is truly an inspiration and a hero. \r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Buffalo USA 2007-10-16T13:52:27-06:00 John 401 M 291 New York 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 individuals who find themselves lucky to be a part of his caseload. John achieves results with a gentle, yet firm manner. He has helped hundreds of individuals, who once faced various physical and mental barriers, find meaning in their daily work and life. \r\n\r\nJohn’s years and years of experience in the field of vocational rehabilitation have yielded hundreds of folks with disabilities, ranging from physical to emotional to behavioral, to lead productive and dignified lives. His honesty is respected and his advice well heeded by his peers. He has made a difference, one person at a time.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Churchville USA 2007-11-06T10:50:47-07:00 David 419 N 297 New York 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 candy, and sometimes it was pretzels or crackers. \r\n\r\nWestern NY is infamous for having severe winter weather; rain, sleet, or even 3-feet of snow. Even when he was 81, he still walked the half-mile every single day. As a child, I looked forward to the daily treats, but now that I’m older, I realize that he braved the harsh weather each day just to see us smile; I now appreciate that more than anything.\r\n\r\n My grandfather touched many lives, evidenced by the more than 1,500 people at his wake. A woman who had been confined to a hospital bed for 5 years came the wake with an aid to pay her respect. She told me that my grandfather would visit her twice a week at her home; to read to her, play bridge, or just converse. For 5 years he would visit twice a week--without fail. She rarely had other visitors. She told me that my grandfather was her only friend. But, she wasn't the only person to share her story with me. Others came throughout the two-day wake and told me how my grandfather touched their lives, too. Even hitchhiker who my grandfather had picked up two years before told me of my grandfather’s impact in his life; he was homeless in a New York winter and my grandfather gave him a place to stay and a warm meal. The man told me that no one had ever been so nice to him. He has since found a job working in a supermarket and earns enough to afford his own apartment. I was inspired, but not surprised to hear all of the touching stories.\r\n\r\nThe two-day wake really opened my eyes to my grandfather's selflessness. I have since tried to model my own life after his. He would help anyone, in any way he could. Whether it was buying groceries for an elderly woman, or bringing treats for his grandkids--wherever he went, smiles followed. My grandfather is far more than just my hero; he is my inspiration.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Horseheads United States 2007-12-19T03:07:41-07:00 Victoria 443 W 300 New York 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 could light up a room and her kindness goes a long way. After meeting me only once, she now says “hi” to me every day in the hall. On a rainy day, I saw her sitting in the lunchroom when some kids returning from band ran up and needed the door to be opened. Out of that whole cafeteria of able-bodied kids, she was the only person who took the time to open the door for them. A few days later, I saw her helping a girl pick up her things that she had dropped. I’ve seen her demonstrate kindness to others on many occasions. \r\n\r\nNow, she has been out of school for a few weeks and I don't know where she disappeared to, but I hope she's ok. Regardless, she has changed me forever and showed me that little acts of kindness can go a long way. This girl has been through so much and has really been hit hard with this disease, yet she continues to work through it all and keep so positive. \r\n\r\nIf I could be half of the person that she is, I would be so happy.\r\n\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Fremont USA 2007-12-19T08:51:14-07:00 Dennis 444 D 301 CA 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 16 years of private school, solely on a government worker's salary since my mom stayed home. \r\n\r\nMy dad was the first in his family to graduate from college and I was the second. \r\n\r\nIn 1998, my dad was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, or CLL. I was devastated. He went through so much to fight the cancer - chemo, radiation and finally a bone marrow transplant. He was a fighter and never complained once about the pain he was in. He was always worried about what would happen to “his girls” if he didn't make it. He was strong every single day and I told him he just couldn’t give up yet; I wasn't ready to let him go. He had so many things in life to do; especially meet his future grandchildren. \r\n\r\nI am so deeply happy to say that in 2007 he got to meet his first grandchild, a little girl. I had told him that life would be worth sticking around for! He thankfully is in remission and while he has had other complications from the cancer, he is now doing well. \r\n\r\nHe has inspired me to be an advocate for people battling cancer. His experience also helped me to realize the importance of raising awareness for the National Marrow Donor Program. Not only that, he has inspired me to be a better person and to appreciate every single day, because life truly is a gift.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Cardwell USA 2007-12-21T03:18:35-07:00 Scarlett 446 H 302 Missouri 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 a wheelchair. \r\n\r\nThis Christmas, her determination and endurance won her a dancing role in the Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet. There was no need for stage lights that afternoon; Scarlett's smiling face was light enough for the entire stage. Her ability to float across the stage in her wheelchair, her arms defining every move, gave such inspiration to the audience. \r\n\r\nMy daughter…my hero…the ballerina…the child…the gift.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 New Braunfels USA 2007-12-21T04:12:16-07:00 Cliff & Shannon 447 F 303 Texas 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 these children but they always love them completely. They constantly sacrifice for these children. \r\n\r\nCliff and Shannon do not ask for help or sympathy. They took these children in fully understanding how their lives would be changed forever. \r\n\r\nNow, thanks to Cliff and Shannon, Daniel, AJ and Mia have a chance to thrive and be happy. They are healthy children wrapped in a warm cocoon of love. I only wish that I had a few of the wonderful qualities that make Cliff and Shannon such selfless, loving people. \r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Ogden USA 2007-12-30T23:49:59-07:00 Ben 454 F 306 Utah 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 and chance for heroism has come in their late eighties, as Rita has Alzheimer's. Ben lovingly and faithfully cares for Rita in their home. They will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary this May and Ben never complains, only says how much he loves Rita. Five of their grown daughters live within 20 miles and share the responsibility of coming each day to help with housekeeping and bathing. \r\n\r\nMay we all be as positive as Ben with our challenges in life and inspire those around us to do likewise.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Monroe USA 2008-01-16T04:38:06-07:00 Paul 469 B 309 NJ 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 can see many of these traits more clearly now. My Dad is a believer in all that is good. We playfully call him our 'boy scout' as he gives willingly of his time, his money, his knowledge, and his love. “No” is not a word in his vocabulary. \r\n\r\nMaybe he learned to encompass these admirable traits as the youngest of four children. Maybe he learned to value these things as a young man drafted and sent overseas to fight in the Korean War. Or maybe it was when he returned home and met his bride of 51 years!! He may even have developed this capability in his years as a successful business owner. No matter where or how he has earned his wisdom, he remains my hero. \r\n\r\nI look up to my dad and pray that my own son can someday be half the man that my dad is.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Garden City USA 2008-01-24T13:25:14-07:00 Dayna 481 S 311 NY 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 cross. She has participated in school plays and is very involved in a high school leadership group. In this group, Dayna not only teaches tolerance and hope, she represents it. Even though she cannot talk, she constantly has a voice in her surrounding community. She is a true inspiration to her peers, the school faculty, and members of the community. There is absolutely nothing this young woman wouldn't do for me, her other friends, or anyone who asked for her help. Dayna is my hero because she represents strength and shows me that dreams do come true. \r\n\r\nMany people have never met their hero in person. How lucky am I, for my hero is my best friend!\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 USA 2008-01-29T06:15:46-07:00 Darius 485 313 Georgia 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 ago, he landed on a creative plan to do just that. He and a friend were watching MTV's “Pimp My Ride,” in which old cars are re-vamped. Hoping that MTV might want to re-vamp Darius's old and unreliable wheelchair, the boys decided to take a cross-country trip to Los Angeles, to knock on MTV's door and pose their idea in person. Darius realized they could film the trip, and use it to educate people about both DMD and accessibility challenges facing the disabled. Darius and a group of friends spent months organizing the trip and raising money for it, and then set out to film “Darius Goes West.” The film documents their travels across the U.S. – Darius's first trip outside his hometown – and the accessibility challenges they encountered. It has won numerous awards at film festivals around the world, and has raised thousands of dollars toward a cure for DMD. Darius, now considered an emerging leader in the field of disability rights, travels extensively to speak about the film, DMD, and accessibility. When you ask him what he thinks about all of this, he says, “I can't believe we were able to do this. I've learned that I can get things done. I can make the world better.” \r\nThis story courtesy of www.barronprize.org 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Berkeley USA 2008-02-29T18:01:28-07:00 Catherine 522 C 324 CA 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 cancer. \r\n\r\nThese days, she walks a mile to work everyday with an uncomfortable prosthesis; but you can’t take the smile from her face. She inspires her students at the Univeisty of California at Berkeley while openly and honestly challenging them on what diversity and adversity really mean. She is my hero.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 San Antonio USA 2008-03-28T02:55:31-06:00 Javier 543 O. 325 Texas 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 he just plain makes me smile all the time. Best of all - he likes me for me and not for who he thinks I should be. That is the measure of a true friend. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Overland Park USA 2008-04-30T16:17:50-06:00 Will 571 S. 337 Kansas 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 hospitalized, and is bound to a wheelchair for getting around due to the loss of function on the left side of his body after the needle biopsy. He has missed very few days of work; still bathes our girls at night; helps around the house; and does it all with a positive attitude. We both know the "odds" of his condition are not good, but we don't care—I should say—he doesn't care. I'm sure he has bad days when he is absolutely terrified, but he doesn't show it to anyone. I love my husband's strength and the courage that he has shown since all of this began. He is my hero. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Buffalo Grove USA 2008-05-31T02:51:04-06:00 Faye 604 H. 354 Illinois 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 years. She never gave up and continues to be active in causes related to breast cancer awareness. She e-mails senators and rarely let's people know about these e-mails. I am proud to call her my friend and mom. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Aurora USA 2008-06-04T15:07:11-06:00 Lisa 616 H. 356 Illinois 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 best friend in the world battled anorexia and Lisa held her hand all the way through her illness until the day her friend took her own life. Crippled with grief, she put her feelings aside and continued her work as an eating disorder specialist. She has been in the field for nearly a decade and that is how we met. I had given up. Giving up is not in Lisa’s vocabulary. Lisa's uncanny intuition and ability to get into the minds of those deeply hurting is why she was able to help me. She is the most genuinely heartfelt person alive. The death of her best friend could have broken her...but instead of hiding in grief, she uses that death to save others. Lisa deserves all of the recognition in the world. Today Lisa left her long time position at a mental health hospital to grow her own practice which will include using her horse in the experiential therapies that she is known for and is an avenue that she has really pioneered. She is a beautiful, amazing person. I love you Lis, my greatest hero, my earth angel. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Canada 2008-06-13T18:35:42-06:00 Bob 630 B. 362 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 store where my mother worked. \r\n\r\nBob befriended me and took me out into the hills of north Calgary where he taught me to appreciate nature. He also helped me learn how to fish and hunt small animals. He was the inspiration that led me to enjoy a life focusing on the outdoors and nature. He was my absolute hero and, even after he left Calgary to pursue a variety of careers, he sent me letters that kindled my appreciation and desire for adventure and the outdoors.\r\n\r\nWhere he is now, I have no idea but I hope that someday I will find him and be able to talk about life with him. \r\n\r\nHe was a most wonderful, loving hero to a very lonely little boy. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Calhoun United States 2008-06-29T08:59:13-06:00 RG 659 P. 385 Georiga 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 so amazed at how much he can take and still keep going. I want so much to be just like him ... and for that he is my hero. 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 Newport USA 2008-06-30T05:38:03-06:00 Nick 660 P. 386 Rhode Island 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 formed a circle around him to barricade him from other passerbys and waited for emergency help to come. He was life-flighted to UMass Medical Hospital in Worcester, MA. He was in a coma for 25 days and had brain surgery. The doctors told my aunt and uncle as well as the rest of the family who stayed at the hospital day after day that Nick would most likely never walk, talk, swallow, or even breathe again on his own. \r\n\r\nOne day at a time they slowly removed tubes and monitors. He came out of the coma and was transferred to Fransiscan Hospital for Children in Brighton, MA. Here he did occupational, physical, and speech therapy every day. With daily family visits and LOTS OF humor intertwined into his daily routines he made significant progress. He graduated to eating baby food and yogurt instead of through a feeding tube and was slowly learning to get mobility back. He had a goal to run out of the hospital.\r\n\r\nAfter 75 days in the hospital Nick ran out. He had reached his goal. He still had some tremors in his right side (his natural strong side.) This meant he had to learn how to do everything left handed instead. \r\n\r\nHe went on to be tutored the rest of the school year, insisting that he'd graduate the 8th grade on time with his friends. And he did. \r\n\r\nHe persisted with his rehab and learning and calls himself "lucky" for experiencing what he has and coming out on the other side. Nick was awarded the Profile in Courage from Fransican Children's Hospital and since his visit he and his family have started the Prefontaine Foundation at the hospital. \r\n\r\nHe works for and visits the hospital often. He graduated high school last year and we all could not have been more proud. He today at the age of 19 has already accomplished so much more than the doctors ever expected after his accident. He just got his realtor's license, does professional speaking to business people, youth, and children alike on overcoming adversity, and slowing down to take time with decision making. He also writes a free monthly newsletter highlighting other heroes among us. Each month he features a new person who has dealt with and/or is dealing with a difficult situation and making only the best of it. Seeing all of these people with such strong convictions and the courage to overcome serves as an example of how everyone else should be living. \r\n\r\nNick is an extremely inspirational, strong, motivated, and talented young individual. Not only is Nick my cousin, but I also work with him on several real estate projects and speaking engagements. He's remarkable and I get see it every day first hand.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:18-06:00 1 USA 2008-07-11T08:31:51-06:00 Taylor 675 398 "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 different, but to what extent, at first, we had no idea. My mother told me that his heart "didn't work the way it was supposed to" and that was why he wasn't able to run like all the other kids or participate in physical exercise classes at school.\r\n\r\nI remember the first time I truly understood that Taylor was different. We were at the beach. The heavy scars from all the surgeries he had where etched all across his chest, a harsh price to pay. But yet life went on—Taylor entered his 7th grade year as I entered 8th. It is important to describe his character, for such a polite, funny, and intriguing person you could not find anywhere else. He bore the pain of the many surgeries well, and one could not tell that such a happy optimistic boy as he had been through so much pain. He was loved by all. His sickness was a tragedy—things were not going as well as they should. Taylor needed a new heart or he would not survive. \r\n\r\nA miracle: Taylor got a heart. If it would have been just a day later, he would have died. He underwent a long recovery, but soon was enjoying the luxuries of “race day” in gym class. He was our miracle, our friend. A year afterwards, at 14 years old, Taylor died unexpectedly. He had united a community, and had a profound impact on all of our lives. His funeral was beautiful, with a turnout of about 1500 people. Although it has been hard, I have learned so much. He was an example to all of us. He is my utmost hero, and I don't think I will have the blessing of ever knowing such a person again.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 2008-07-11T09:01:28-06:00 My Friend 676 399 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 typed the words that made it real. At that same moment another friend arrived at my house the soul purpose of the visit was to find out what was wrong and why was I acting so withdrawn. He was thinking he had done something wrong! I could not say the words out loud so I had him read my post in the chat room. He looked at me put his arms around me and I cried my fear. \r\n\r\nHe then said "Well, you wanted to make a change in your life." I looked at him stunned and said, "Dying wasn't what I had in mind." He laughed and said "We will go on a diet together…you had wanted to lose weight.” I also had an excellent doctor who supported the idea and bought me a book “Living Without Fat.” So that is what we did the entire time I was going through treatment. He had me focus on life and my body and cooking and recipes. I became so positive about my life and the diet that I didn't have room for the cancer. Finally came the day when I was told that there was no sign of the tumor. \r\n\r\nWithout my friend I would have died. His love, his belief, was a life line. He is a hero. He listened, he cared, he loved, and he showed a commitment to me and all those in his life beyond anyone I have known.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Charleston United States 2008-07-19T09:37:05-06:00 Coach 687 P. 406 South Carolina 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 so much easier than pressing forward. It was during these times that Coach P. showed his fatherly side. He encouraged me, but he never stopped pushing me. He believed in me even when I had trouble believing in myself. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Garner USA 2008-07-28T00:50:35-06:00 Gabriel 701 W 416 NC 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 and perhaps also suffered from a difficult to diagnose congenital defect. Gabriel spent the first five months of his life in the hospital.\r\nThose were tough times, but Gabriel was already showing his character. Though he received far less attention than a baby should, he quickly became his nurses' favorite. And, every time I was able to visit him - perhaps an hour each day - he always greeted me with a big smile. I have a great picture of a surprise visit to him during late December. My colleagues and I were on a business trip to downtown Boston where he was staying and we all popped in on him. I held him up next to me and he looked at the camera and smiled as a colleague took a great picture of us.\r\nGabriel was eventually able to come home. He came home with a tracheotomy and damaged airway which prevented speech and created a situation in which he needed careful supervision. His critical airway meant that dislodging or occlusion of the tracheotomy would be life-threatening. \r\nOver his nine years of life, Gabriel has faced dozens of surgeries and a few scary accidents. But, he has never lost his strong will to live life to the fullest, he has never lost his positive attitude about his health or his optimism that he will one day be cured.\r\nGabriel has adapted well and without complaint to various periods of being able to speak or not. Until he was five, he used sign language and then a small computerized device to communicate. If he couldn't use the device or didn't know a sign, he would make it up. \r\nOne time, Gabriel wanted fruit "roll-ups" but didn't know the sign. So, he rolled on the kitchen floor and hopped up quickly and showed the sign for "up."\r\nRecently, Gabriel had a major surgical procedure fail and he actually went from being able to speak to losing that ability. It was very hard on all of us. I can remember barely having the emotional strength to tell Gabriel in the hospital that he would be getting the tracheotomy back and would not be able to speak for some time. As I told him and wept, he began to weep as well, but I believe it was more out of compassion for me. He grabbed me and hugged me and told me not to cry.\r\nGabriel is my son. He has a lot to learn and I must continue to parent and teach him. But, in many ways, I have a lot to learn from him about strength and optimism in the face of adversity. He has faced threats to quality of life and life itself with joy and resolve. Gabriel is my hero.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 New York USA 2008-08-23T02:12:35-06:00 David 733 L 429 New York 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 because he stuttered. He is my hero because despite this, he is a kind, loving man and a great dad. One of his goals in life is to be the dad that his dad never was. He works hard at everything he does, has a great career, and is an elite athlete with a loving family and friends. He is the best friend anyone can have. I, too, stutter and David who hardly knew me at the time, inspired and encouraged me to achieve success beyond my wildest dreams. He is also chairman of the American Institute for Stuttering and wants to ensure that no child endures what he did growing up. Although he has a heart condition with several stents in place, he is optimistic and joyful always and lives life to the fullest. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Moody United States 2008-09-10T15:58:51-06:00 John 757 H 439 AL 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 would live with various family members because my father was a traveling salesman—my father was grieving so deeply at the time he was not aware of their decision. \r\n\r\nAfter the funeral, my siblings and I were getting ready to leave with our extended family members to go with them to their homes in other states. When my father realized what was happening, he put his foot down and said that his five children were not going anywhere. He was our father and that was where we would stay: with him. And we did. \r\n\r\nTimes were so hard for him. Two of his children were not even in school yet and the other three were pre-teens trying to fit in with friends at school, much less learning how to deal with the loss of their mother. My father was dealing with hospital bills and a mother-in-law that blamed him for the death of her only child. My mother was given a "new" cancer drug, chemotherapy. The doctor was trying anything to save my mother and at the time my father was desperate to not lose her. Times were not easy for my dad. \r\n\r\nI do not remember the hard times though. Not only was I small but my father never let us know how bad the times were. I do not ever remember a time when my father did not provide for us. He eventually got a housekeeper that stayed with us so that he could go back to work. Every night he came home and took care of the five of us. He loved us unconditionally. When I hear these stories, not from my dad but other family members, I am so proud of my father. He could have given us to other family members and made his life easier. But he did not. He stood up for his family. I am what I am today, a mother of three beautiful sons, a very successful sales manager for a Fortune 500 company but more important than anything...I am my father’s daughter.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 2008-10-02T05:26:49-06:00 Vicky 793 S. 447 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 Mexico and I became an officer. Those were days of difficult armed conflict and many of my classmates died in combat. Even though Vicky knew the same could happen to me she stood by my side always. Vicky and I continued our relationship. We wrote letters to each other often (I still have some from 1984!). One day while we were together at a restaurant we spoke for the first time about getting married. At the same time there was a TV show on about a little angel called “Andrea.” Then with her sweet voice Vicky whispered to me “Would you like to have a little Andrea?” I almost fainted! But I liked the idea, so every time we wrote letters to each other we always mentioned “Andrea.” Given how dangerous my position was at the time, in one particular letter she wrote: “Please, please, please take care of yourself. If something were to happen to you we would never meet Andrea! My prayers are with you.”\r\n\r\nOne time I was ordered by my superiors to do something against my beliefs. I did not carry out the order, and as a result, I had no other option but to run away. Vicky’s heart was broken—she couldn’t come with me and so we had to say goodbye. However we continued talking to each other, and one day she made the decision to follow me. It took her 65 days to travel across Mexico, facing unbelievable dangers (she was alone and she was a pretty girl). \r\n\r\nFinally she arrived and we were together again. I was poor I had no place for both of us but she did not care. “Money is not everything” she told me (and she mean that) so our first month we rented a closet right under the main stairs of a family house. We started looking for jobs. We went to bed hungry many nights but she never complained. What she did do was to encourage me to be a better a man. She never complained—she just stood by my side.\r\n\r\nTime went by and on May 19th 1992, we found ourselves driving to the Kaiser Permanente Hospital on Sunset Boulevard in California. Vicky was in labor! All of a sudden the nurse told us we had a baby girl. Vicky looked at me and said “Andrea is here” and we both cried like children. However our smiles changed when the doctor approached us with concern and told us there was something wrong with the baby and they took Andrea away to treat her. Later that day we were told that Andrea was born with Down syndrome as well as some other serious complications, and that she would probably not live longer than three months.\r\n\r\nAndrea is now 16, and every moment we’ve had her has been a blessing. A year or so later after Andréa’s birth we had a son, Byron Jr. Vicky has always been there for all of us. We bought a house and we both had great jobs. Vicky dedicated her life to help people working with children with disabilities and she encouraged us all to do the same as volunteers. Because of Vicky’s example, Andrea, Byron and I served during the weekends. \r\n\r\nMany years had gone by now, and yet in one night everything changed. I was deported. I asked Vicky to stay because of Andréa’s needs but she did not want to be poor again, and she wanted her family together. So they joined me back in my native country, which had completely changed since I had last been there. Everything was different—we didn’t recognize many buildings or streets. It was very, very hard. I became depressed and wanted nothing…and then again Vicky helped me and encouraged me to go on. We had no place to stay so an old friend allowed us to stay in an abandoned house of his with no electricity or running water. Vicky never complained.\r\n\r\nA couple of years went by and we began to realize that our children had no future the way we were living. Andrea hasn’t been able to attend school because there are no programs for her and what was worse—her health was deteriorating. We had to make a difficult decision. I begged Vicky to leave me behind; against her will they are back in the US. I have no idea when I will see them again, but I know it was the right choice. And even though we call each other every single night, we miss each other greatly. What I admire most about my wife is how she is willing to sacrifice the love of her life for the other loves of her life—our children. Vicky is, with no doubt, my hero.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Every City United States 2008-10-02T10:02:14-06:00 American Red Cross 795 449 Every State 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 157th national relief operation. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 USA 2008-10-15T07:02:09-06:00 Monte 811 R. 455 California 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 that could also support his family. \r\n\r\nIn 1999 we had our first child, a beautiful baby girl. What a tremendous blessing, but also one of the most difficult times we would experience. I was working two part-time jobs and trying to figure out how to be a mom for the first time. My husband was working full time and taking 20 units of college courses at the same time. For the six years that Monte was in college he tried to be the best father, the best husband, the best employee, and the best college student. I know it was terribly overwhelming for him at times. It was a difficult time for both of us. He showed great perseverance and carried the burden of these responsibilities for those six years. \r\n\r\nHe graduated from college in 2004! He has been blessed for his ambition, character, dedication, and sacrifice. We have been married now for seventeen years. My husband has a successful career, we have a beautiful, happy family with three amazing children (9, 6, and 5 months), we own a home, we have all of our needs met and then some, and I am able to stay home to be a mom. I will forever be grateful to my husband for his hard work and for the man that he is when no one is looking.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Apache Junction USA 2008-10-16T08:05:05-06:00 Walker 814 O. 456 Arizona 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 he never gave up, ever.\r\n\r\nHe is so chill. And the best brother anyone could ever have. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Gatlinburg USA 2008-10-24T01:05:10-06:00 Joyce 826 M. 461 Tennessee 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 minimum wage is astonishing. For as little money as we had I never felt poor in any way. \r\n\r\nThe degree of unconditional love she gave my sister and I every single day became the building blocks for who I am today. She helped us to always remember the important things in life such as treating people (and yourself) with respect, remembering our maker, honesty, hard working and most importantly, how to love. She has the iron will of a true hero!\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 San Marcos United States 2008-10-27T04:50:32-06:00 Ashley 851 L. 470 Texas 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 now attends college in San Marcos. I plan to go to college too, just like her.\r\n\r\nAshley stands up for what she believes in which inspires me, and she has a strong dedication to everything she puts her mind to. I can always depend on my sister to be there for me no matter what, and others can too. She is my sister but we get along like best friends and hardly ever fight—one of the many reasons I love her! We help each other out all the time and forgive each others mistakes. She is a good listener and gives good advice when I need it, but she is also always up to learn and know something new. \r\n\r\nAshley always shows love and loyalty to me and our family. She is patient with me and everyone else and she perseveres through anything that comes up. Her respect for others is amazing and she has a great deal of responsibility which helps to build her self-esteem. She shares a lot and has soul and strength to get through everything. She sets the right example for me and others, which I admire. My sister is my best friend and my hero. She is an amazing person and I hope to be just like her.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 2008-10-31T09:08:27-06:00 Brandyn 863 G. 473 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 getting his GED at the same time. He was told that all he had to do to get out of foster care was save up two thousand dollars. But instead of leaving, he told me that he was going to stick around in the foster home as long as he could so he could look out for me, and make sure that I was okay, because at that time I was only 13. \r\n\r\nHe was always doing selfless acts like that. In fact, that is the reason he is no longer with us. Eight years ago, instead of coming straight home from work one night, he gave a co-worker a ride home because her ride didn’t show. He was on his way home from her house that night when a drunk driver crossed the center line and hit his car head on. He lost his life doing good for someone else. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. He was always doing things for others and that is what makes him my hero.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 San Dimas USA 2008-11-22T16:39:16-07:00 Tam 883 L. 481 CA 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 know how to speak English. He had to learn from the basics of the language. \r\n\r\nDespite all of these obstacles, Tam graduated from high school with High Honors and received a California Scholarship that allowed him to study at the university. He graduated in Computer Science and is now extremely successful. Tam is an extraordinary man, living the life he always dreamed of. \r\n\r\nTam is a true, full-hearted inspiration in faith and hope. He has shown me that all things are possible with focus, determination, and commitment. He is my HERO. And the love of my life forever. \r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Loiza Puerto Rico 2008-12-04T08:28:04-07:00 Ramon 887 R. 484 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 of the key players. In 1987, Ramos played in Puerto Rico's national youth (under 21) team that won the gold medal at the Centrobasket Under 21 competition, by beating the team from Cuba, 94-78 in Caguas. Ramos then came to the US and played for his college team at Seton Hall. He helped get his team to the final four's championship game during his last season there in 1989. \r\n\r\nAfter college, Ramos was then signed by the Portland Trail Blazers, who predicted a great future for the Puerto Rican player. As he was new to the NBA his coaches had him sit the bench and observe the game’s style rather than immediately starting him. Sadly, Ramos never got the chance to play.\r\n\r\nIn mid December of 1989, Ramos' car skidded off the free-way as he was driving home. Ramos was injured badly, and he was in a coma for over a year. While he never played a minute in a regular season game, he made an impression on his teammates and on Portland fans that lasted long after that life-threatening automobile accident. The 6-foot-8, 255-pound forward from Seton Hall came to fall camp with a work ethic, affable personality, infectious smile and against-all-odds drive to make it in the NBA made him a fan favorite. While he waged a battle for survival, his NBA Finals-bound Blazers teammates dedicated their season to him. His locker remained in place, complete with his game uniform, that season and for several seasons to follow.\r\n\r\nRamos slowly emerged out of the coma about a year after the accident. Ramos has difficulty walking and doing every day things, and he requires constant supervision by his parents. \r\n\r\nHis family and friends are now working on creating a foundation in his name to help Hispanic students achieve their goals thru higher education, following Ramon Ramos example. Ramon was an excellent student, with an 3.9 average which earned him the title "Scholar Athlete of the year 1989" in The Big East Conference.\r\n\r\nI'll end by quoting Coach PJ Carlesimo in his intro speech to Ramon's Induction into Seton Hall University Hall of Fame: "...most students come to a University to better themselves, a rare few end up bettering the University...Ramon Ramos was one of those few."\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 New York City USA 2008-12-08T15:54:11-07:00 Larry 890 S. 486 New York 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 check-up, he is asking him to donate money to his latest cause. When he is in a restaurant, he asks the owner, waiters, waitresses, and even other customers.\r\n\r\nOn top of that, he is always outside (when the weather permits it) on the steps of an apartment building asking anyone and everyone who passes by. Larry is my hero because he never gives up.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 West Brooklyn USA 2008-12-23T14:23:20-07:00 Margina 902 S. 491 Illinois 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 plays sports with me! If I had three words to describe my mom they would be outgoing, caring, and loving. That's why my hero is my mom! 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Seattle USA 2009-01-01T18:46:11-07:00 Roberta 905 S. 492 Washington 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 ran smoothly though it still had the usual family drama. The big difference in this home? There was no sadness. \r\n\r\nJokes and silly fun made this light-hearted home a dream from what I knew back east. I learned that Bobby had started the first Boy Scout troop in Michigan, and was involved with Girl Scout and Brownies clubs. She and her husband Bob were chosen to be the God Parents by every family on their street. At the time I thought that was pretty cool. As the weeks went on I learned how to read and I learned how to love through her firm way of coaxing me to learn. I was a very sad child from a very sad home in a very sad city. Bobby is my hero because she knew how to live and she knew how to love and she knew how important it was to be fair even when it did not give her the advantage. My Aunt Bobby knew that winning was not always good and she knew that losing was not always bad. \r\n\r\nThere was something about her and her husband Bob I have never seen before in any person then or even today. It was a kind of class, a kind of knowing that they had that made them glow with cheer and confidence. There was a kind of mystery about them like they knew something that they held dear that they knew was special. \r\n\r\nI think it was love. The kind of love that is refined and yet easy, natural, and filled with life, joy and humor. I tell my friends today that they do not make folks like that any more. Bobby S. was my aunt and my hero because she knew right from wrong and she practiced the Golden Rule to the letter. She always said you could not go too far wrong if you stuck with the Golden Rule. I have ever since. And though my life does not have the same sparkle or glee that their family did, I still got to see it and experience the love of people whom I knew for certain loved me. That is why Bobby and her husband Bob are my heroes.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Jinja Uganda 2009-01-08T04:29:02-07:00 Fred 909 M 495 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, shaves their head to keep them more clean, hands out whatever used clothing and blankets he has, and provides a hot meal. He wins their trust and heals their wounds. And when he can, he helps them return to family, find a foster home or move to a rural orphanage. At a time when others his age are partying and dating, Fred tends to the kids that sleep outside the door of his small room, covered with cardboard for protection from other gangs of kids. He's braved personal danger to protect these kids and they adore him. \r\n\r\nFred is an amazing young man who has made a positive difference to thousands of children...a perfect Hero.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Birmingham United States 2009-01-22T05:15:31-07:00 Phoenix and Talia 913 D. 498 Alabama 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 no idea how mother or baby were doing.\r\n \r\nI arrived at the hospital just as my wife was being wheeled out of surgery and was told that she would be fine, but that there were some problems with our son. His heart was beating at about twice the normal rate for an infant and it looked as though there might be a small hole in it as well. They weren't sure if he would even last the night. \r\n\r\nThe first time that I was able to see or touch my son was through an incubator. While only two weeks early, he was on the small side. We talked to the doctors and because we were in a small town, they didn't feel they had the correct facilities to meet his needs. We were advised that he would be taken to a larger facility about 3 hours away that had an excellent neonatal unit.\r\n \r\nMarcy, my wife, was still in quite a bit of pain, but was able to see our son for just a few moments the next morning before he was taken to the helicopter to be transported. She was to stay in the hospital for a few more days for a full recovery, but urged me to go with the baby. I spent the next few days traveling back and forth between hospitals before she was released that Saturday - the baby had been born on Tuesday.\r\n \r\nIn the neonatal ICU, we were advised that our son did indeed have a small hole in is heart as well as an irregular heartbeat. We spent 10 days in the ICU and during that time, he was defibrillated four times in an effort to lower and regulate his heartbeat. Finally, we were allowed to take him home, but not without medication to regulate his heartbeat. He was on medication for the first year of his life. We were advised that this medication was known to cause developmental delays in young children but our only other option would have been open heart surgery. \r\n \r\nThe medication did indeed cause delays. Our son didn't walk or really talk until he was 18 months old. He is somewhat smaller than other kids his age. But Phoenix has never let this stop him. He is now five years old, but through our efforts, the efforts of developmental specialists, and his on tenacity, he is now on the same developmental level as the other kids his age. He is intelligent, happy, and full of energy. He will be starting school in the fall and is already reading. Phoenix never lets anything stop him. If he can't do something, he'll keep trying until he can, never giving up. He is named for the mythical Phoenix that rises from the ashes and we believe his name fits him completely. It's because of his spirit and determination that he is one of my heroes. \r\n \r\nMy other hero is my daughter. Talia was five when Phoenix was born and has never complained about the amount of attention that we had to give him. She is incredible! Instead of being the “typical” big sister and complaining about her “little pest” of a brother, she has always been there to help not only Phoenix, but her mother and I as well. If Phoenix couldn't do something that he wanted to, Talia would be right there patiently helping and teaching him. She is always there to help her mother and me as well. We are blessed everyday by her caring spirit and nature. As she has grown older, she has, if anything, become more of a helpmate to us, as we now have a new infant girl in our lives. Talia loves and cherishes both of her siblings and never complains about having to help, doing it without asking and with a smile on her face. Between my son and daughter, I've learned how to live a good life with determination, caring, and perseverance. This is why they are my heroes.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 San Carlos USA 2009-01-25T15:33:56-07:00 Naomi 915 D. 500 CA 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 me that everyday during that year with the exception of maybe 10 days, she was out looking for work, filling out applications. \r\n\r\nMany times she would fill out applications in the same stores three to four times because when she went back to check with them they would say they had lost it, or when she interviewed with them they would say they had hired someone else, but she would go by the store again later that same week and see the 'help wanted' sign still in the window, so again, she would go in and fill out another application. Finally she was hired by our company, and she's one of the kindest, most compassionate girls I've ever met. \r\n\r\nShe never misses work, she's always helpful to the customers (they love her) and she tries to help her co-workers whenever they need her, though they don't always do the same for her. She may be different in the way she learns, but she is a HERO in the way she acts, trusts, and believes in herself and others. I'm proud to call her a friend.\r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Franklin USA 2009-02-19T10:28:27-07:00 Cherry 928 B. 508 Tennessee 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 will have insurance, but this means he can't be with her every day. \r\n\r\nNonetheless, Cherry always has positive things to say. She tries to do for others. She takes care of her elderly mother. She pretends to be fine when she is very sick. She will not let you feel sorry for her. She says there are others worse off. She teaches patience, perseverance, faith, love and hope. She humbles me just by her being. 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Ogden USA 2009-03-25T04:19:19-06:00 Wanda 952 M. 520 Utah 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 me. \r\n\r\nBut I didn’t run away because I was able to talk to my mom about everything that was happening, and she always said to “Hang in there, life is worth your patience.” \r\n\r\nOne major thing that she has always encouraged me to do is to never give up on going to school. She says I need to keep going through the hard times, and she will be there as much as she can. \r\n 2009-09-12T00:00:19-06:00 1 Connie Hower cwrcnn@yahoo.com 1 2009-12-11T16:22:00-07:00 David 2860 H 664 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 Mayo will remove his whole colon. Due to the liver transplant, he isn't a candidate for the second surgery in which the doctors would put the "pouch" inside him (which would replace the "pouch" at his side). Even so, he is very calm and assures me that he will be alright. He always assures me when I should be the one who assures him! He is a real blessing to me. We have been married for 44 years and I hope we grow old together! I know, without a doubt, that all this would make some people doubt God's awesome power or cause them to get real depressed...but not David! He has the faith to believe in miracles! 2010-01-18T13:10:18-07:00 1 Lisa klage1la@cmich.edu 1 2010-01-23T12:33:43-07:00 Cathy 2891 K 678 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 a "buddy" of a student in Pontiac, MI because this student needed guidance in her life and my mother felt she had so much extra time that she should be changing someone's life for the better. She has helped put both my sister and I through college, has supported and encouraged us every day and always reminds us to never give up. She is my hero because she has overcome so many things that I know there would never be a reason to give up. She has come so far and shown me to stay strong and persevere through the good, the bad & the ugly times. 2010-01-25T16:25:56-07:00 1 Cindy Urso ursoci@sasd.k12.pa.us 1 2010-01-25T08:49:05-07:00 Ashley 2894 U 678 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 turned into my nurse. She has absolutely done everything to make my life easier when really it should be me making her life easier. What a blessing she has always been in my life!!! 2010-01-25T16:30:42-07:00 1 Yoram Curiel Ycuriel@gmail.com 1 2010-01-27T03:48:58-07:00 Judith 2896 C 679 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 our life. Yes, she has problems,if Parkinson's isn't bad enough to endure she also has severe Scoliosis, which causes very bad back pain. No one could see or tell the pain she has to endure, as she lives like a wonderful mother, and grandmother to nine grandchildren. A real hero for sure. 2010-02-12T11:51:25-07:00