Who in my life has embodied the goodness of their heart in the face of difficulty?

My Mother. When she was 20 years old, my Mother was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, and went through many rounds of intense chemotherapy and radiation (this was in the 1970s- today they don’t typically use the type of radiation treatment she received). My mother lost so much- she couldn’t finish college, she lost her beautiful, long hair, she lost her ability to have children, and so much more. But she also gained a whole new perspective on what was important in life, she met her best friend and true love, my Father, and discovered a innate determination to survive. When she was finally healthy, she got married to my loving Father, her and my Father worked their butt off to buy a house, and they decided to adopt a child (me!). My Mother was determined to not let her cancer define the rest of her life. She had her dreams and nothing was going to stop her from achieving those dreams. She was the most wonderful and dedicated Mother. She taught me how to be strong, brave, and not to sweat the small stuff. But she did have to live with her cancer for the rest of her life. The radiation she received caused many medical problems- her vocal cord had to be replaced, her intestines had to be resected, she had a double mastectomy after a breast cancer diagnosis, and had to have both of her lungs drained since they had filled up with fluid. My Mother fought a long, hard battle with her body. She had suffered so much, but she was always there for me. Two years ago she passed away (she was 62). Her strength still inspires me everyday, and I know she is finally at peace.