A Hero As A Hero In My Life

A hero is not a person with strength or a person how fight monsters. A hero is a person that inspires you to be the best you can be, a person how tells you that there is nothing in the world that you can’t do, a person how will speak to you in a different way. My hero doesn’t need strength or able to fight monster, but their able to change your life in a different way. My heroes inspire me to be the person I can be today and other every day. The people in my store inspire me to do thing I never want to do but they make me do it by changing my mind. The reason I picked these people because they don’t just inspire me they inspire other people to.

I couldn’t imagine what it would be like growing up with a life threating condition that has no cure. Amanda Estep is a 21-year-old, college student and also a close friend of mine who has been battling Cystic Fibrosis since she was three years old. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition that causes mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system, making it hard to breath. “Basically everything in my body is thicker, so the mucus in my lungs is harder to break up and get out which causes frequent lung infections.” Amanda explained to me. Cystic Fibrosis also impacts her ability to digest food, resulting in her being underweight most of her life. While I have known Amanda since kindergarten, we have never talked in depth about how much she has to do to remain as healthy as possible. Hearing her explain her story made me realize how lucky I am to be healthy, and that’s something’s no one should take for granted. There is currently no cure for Cystic Fibrosis, but Amanda shared some of the many things she has to do in order to remain as healthy as possible. Some of those things includes being hospitalized for two weeks four or five times a year, taking many medications, and knowing how hard she can push herself.

After a couple hours, the doctor pulled my daughter out into the hall and said, “your mother has cancer in her duodenum, which is the first part of the small

I come from a small city where most of the people don’t have big dreams or desires. Where everybody settles down where they are at and don’t even try to strike for the best. Where nobody has hope and think it’s a waste of time if you try to reach for your goals/dreams. But in that small city for me, everybody’s mentality is the same except my uncle, who died June, 2004. His name is Javier and before he died he made a huge impact in me that determined the person who I want to become in life.

Rushing to the hospital on a Friday night, I saw a blurred vision, felt dizziness as I saw a shot of IV in my forearm. I saw my mother tears rolling down her cheeks but I told her I will be okay. I was in the emergency room and the doctor asked me various of questions about my health, “Do you smoke? Do drugs? Any sexual activity?” I answered, “No.” The doctors informed to see my family physician for further test. I was not ready for the tests because they could read my future health and change my life.

I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at the age of 2 years old and luckily my parents had insurance. I went through 2 years of treatment. I had surgery to put a port in so that they could inject the chemotherapy. I had aggressive chemotherapy in the beginning of the treatment process to kill the Leukemia. When I was in the hospital I had intravenous (IV) medications given often, I got my heart checked often, and had CBC’s (Complete blood counts) done, so they can monitor my condition. I could call the hospital my second home. The doctors didn't have to ask what movie I wanted to watch, they knew it was “the wiggles”. How the majority of people want to stay in their hospital bed most of the day, I was different, I wanted to go play with the other cancer patients and walk around the hospital with my friends and family. I was always happy when people came to visit me; I was always the happiest child. I never thought of the negative side. I always stayed on the positive side no matter what happened. My family was always on the positive side along with me and my

The hospital for me wasn’t something that I dreaded going to because realistically I knew it was coming. It started to become a monthly sometimes-weekly theme in my life, the only constant one. Well I’m one of those girls that the Make A Wish Foundation would love to get their hands on. When I was at the age of ten years old is when my battle with the big old monster began. I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, yeah it sounds big and scary, but its not that bad at least that’s what I tell myself. For those of you that are blessed with not knowing what it is, I will be your doctor for the moment and let you know. Chronic myeloid leukemia is a form of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood in your body. Well that pretty much sums up what the past seven years of my life has been

“I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles” noted famous actor-turned- quadriplegic Christopher Reeves. In an interview he said “I set impossible goals for myself because when I succeed or even surpass, I know I can challenge myself even more.” This is one example of how challenges define can show our true characteristics, such as Reeve’s courage and perseverance. However, challenges can test our love for one another. Dana Reeves, the wife of Christopher was faced with the challenge of taking care of her now quadriplegic husband, and instead of abandoning him, supported him. The Reeves are just one example of how coping with challenges can not only show our true

It is the year 1992 and my mother is currently nine months pregnant with me, in the war torn country of Bosnia & Herzegovina, wondering if she and I will make it out alive; luck must have been on her side because my mother escaped the war and gave birth to me in Croatia. Eighteen months later, we are on a flight traveling to New York City, which would eventually land in Jacksonville, FL. Now, fast forward to the year 2015 and I am graduating from Nursing School. 23 years ago, my mother did not know we were going to make it out alive, let alone that one day she would be watching me at my pinning ceremony. My mom got rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 26 and has been struggling with it ever since. She

I answered questions and filled out forms to decide how severe the situation was. The results showed it was serious, and my mom and I had to drive 45 minutes away to see a specialist. Seeing the first doctor was mentally exhausting, I did not want to see a second doctor. I hated having to admit that the perfect daughter wasn't perfect. I was a mess.

Myra’s confession sparks interesting thought in my mind upon reading it. I first wondered if she was merely confessing out loud at the church alter because this is what she had been taught to do in order to receive forgiveness or that Myra really wanted someone to talk to. I would not assume that because she told me that she had committed the unpardonable sin that she wants to have counseling regarding it. I would remind her that there is no sin that God wouldn’t forgive us for and that God loves us so much that no matter what are sins are His only begotten son has already died for them. I would ask her if she wanted to privately discuss her feelings. If she was not interested in discussing her feelings I would not intrude or pressure

On November 4, 2014, I received news of my youngest sister being taken away to the emergency room where they would have to keep her overnight. A hundred questions ran through my mind like a soundtrack on loop. Why did she have to stay? How was she? On that date, my sister was diagnosed with type one diabetes, which affects many families a year. When talking about illness media often portray the most negative effects which can scare many people who are ill informed. Illness is not something you often have a plan for and you hope it never occurs. However, much like in my case it brought out a new found strength to become the support my family needed at the time.

The reasoning was because I was put into the hospital for 12 days while the doctors and nurses were pumping blood and iron in me, while also taking multiple bottles of my blood every four hours to try and diagnose me. Once diagnosed, I was giving treatment as soon as possible for my failing kidneys (only 30% functional), and with this diagnosis I had to resign from college for one term minimum because of my treatment and medication bringing down my immune system. The story I told however went into day by day struggles that I faced in the multiple ER visits, and after diagnosis

“You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it's important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages” (Michelle Obama). As my health declined throughout elementary school, my parents and doctors grew concerned. I was losing weight, not growing, throwing up, anemic, losing hair, fatigued, had severe stomach pain, couldn’t eat, and was always in the bathroom. After going to see a gastroenterologist and having numerous tests run, I was diagnosed with a disease with no known cure; Crohn’s. Little did I know in fifth grade that it was just the beginning of struggles, tears, pain, sadness, fear, hospital visits, and surgeries. It was challenging and I was able to learn how to overcome adversity and grow during tough times.

I was perplexed and concerned when I realized that over the span of about three years my mother had kept to herself information about her developing anemia, kidney problems due to past kidney stones, chronic back pain, and now arthritic nodes on her fingers. These are some of the symptoms that I see, and am reminded of daily, when I am around my hardworking mother, who has motivated me to pursue a medical degree.