Proud Mama!!!

I really haven't shared much about my youngest daughter and some of our tough times here, but she just called with an award she received that is such an honor I have to share how she got to it. 

Two years ago she was a healthy normal teenager (sophmore), then after a cheerleading performance the first week of school she starting having pain in her foot.  We thought she had sprained her ankle and treated it as such, it didn't get better went to the doctor they took x-rays and various test, didn't see anything and suggested a boot.  Again, got worse - more testing, nothing..... Then this mysterious pain and inability to move her foot went to both feet - she was suddenly in a wheelchair - a month later it was in her hands and she was unable to even bathe or brush her own teeth.  Again...... doctors don't know what it is.  She pushes through - still attending school, her friends helping her with her work, teachers giving oral test instead of written.  She works hard in therapy and manages to get out of the wheelchair, but still struggles with pain. One year later she is diagnosed with a rare neurological disease that is treatable.  She hobbles through the next year trying different medications, learning to manage the disease, but is unable to cheer anymore, which disappoints her, but you do what you have to in life.  During this time, she continues to volunteer at the Lighthouse for the Blind, continues to do various other volunteer work with Key Club and maintains honor roll status.  Then......... the fall of last year her dad passes away and early summer I'm diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer. The start of her Senior year she has to deal with the death of a parent and the cancer diagnosis of another in addition to Senior year stress.  Does she give up?  Nope, she works just as hard with her volunteer work, helps more around the house and manages to get her grades up even higher!!!  And.............her hard work has started to pay off with scholarships she's being offered to various colleges, but that's not all............

She was nominated by her peers for Louisiana Young Heros Award - an award given literally to only handful of kids each year.  The committee interviewed her teachers and school administrators, talked to various other people she's worked with and she has WON the award.  My sweet angel will be one of a few select kids in the State to receive this award and will be honored with a luncheon at the Govenor's Mansion in April (by which time I hope to have more hair).  I am so proud of her............. She has overcome so much in the last few years and has ended up on top!!!!  Amazing what our kids can do when they put their minds to it.  I am so proud of her and just wanted to share it with my BC Sisters.

Thank you so much!!!!  I am so proud of her for not straying and staying focused.  It's so much easier to give up than to work through the hard times - and rather than taking the easy way out she decided to work harder.  Although I've told her how proud I am of her time and time again, it's nice that she has been recognized by this award.

Thank you - it feels good to share the story.  I hadn't mentioned what my daughter (and our family) has been through the last few years because she had reached a good medium and she really doesn't like to talk about it much so I try to honor that.  But............. I am just so proud of her that I just had to share with you.  I feel like we're one big (cyber) family and help each other good times and bad.