Strength

It can be measured in many ways, how much weight you can bench press, how many miles you can run, or how big your bicep is.  Well I don't really need any of that to tell you about the strongest person I know.

They say behind every successful man is great woman.  In this case she is behind him, beside him, in front of him pushing, pulling, proding him along on what has become his most difficult journey, and hopefully his greatest success.  My mom truly is the greatest.  Since the moment Big Don was diagnosed she has given everything she has to helping him beat it.  This is nothing new for mom, she has been dealing with our problems forever.  Like many moms she is the first person we call when we are happy, sad, angry, excited, anxious, or just need to talk.  It seems like she always has an answer.  But the strength comes when she doesn't have the answer, as was the case on August 2nd.  She still put on a smile, talking to everyone who came in the hospital, and sleeping, not in the hospital room with Big Don, but in the hospital bed so he could rest comfortably.  She showered at the gym next door so she wasn't gone too long and answered every phone call even if it was her oldest son calling for the 32nd time that hour.  She sits with him now at chemo talking about Flathead Beverage and the score of the baseball game.  She counts his calories for him, and watches him to make sure he is sleeping soundly.  She knows as much about pain pills, and indigestion pills, and sleeping pills as any MD I know.  And as any of her friends back in Whitefish could tell you (even if they can't read the blog at school) she does it with a smile. 

She does it because he is her person.

I have already learned so much from this process, but one thing I already knew is that when Big Don beats this thing, the biggest reason will be because of the strength he gets from a 5 foot 3, 52 year old woman who is proudly standing next to him.  I can't wait for that day. 

I love you mom and I hope to be as strong as you someday.