My sister Kate is one of the most amazing people I have been fortunate enough to know. At 25,(1996) Kate was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, she accepted this better than anyone could have imagined and incorporated her new lifestyle into her day and moved on. (we all watched my Dad work with his diabetes daily to maintain his state of health as we grew up) She published a couple stories/articles to help others see the postive in her challenges with her health, and those that can get thrown at you. I believe she was an inspiration to many who deal with chronic pain and inspired them to work with theirs as well.

Years later their first born son, Jack (18 months), passed away suddenly in their home. After an autopsy they were told he had had a rare migration disorder that there is only one other documented case on. She had everyone in the medical field possible examine her sons brain in hopes that it would help another family someday.

She and her husband then had two additional children, both of whom have health issues. She and her husband are amazing support for one another and their network of friends is what takes them thru each day. It has been one thing after another in their lives but if you met Kate you would not know anything was different in her life than in yours. She has the most amazing sense of humor which sets everyone’s mind at ease around her. If you could meet her you would immediately see what I and so many see that ever have the opportunity to meet her. She spent sometime as a geriatric psych nurse and all her patients adored her. She puts a smile on everyone’s face and truly shines a light on their day.

We all wish for anything positive in her/their lives. It can be the sunshine, a phone call from an old friend, lunch with a new friend – when those things happen for her, we are all thankful because everything else around her tends to be so impossible to imagine anyone would have to see in a lifetime, not to mention at 35 years old.

I always wonder when someone is going to give her a break – the break that she needs from the hand she’s been dealt. She would be the last one to complain, and the first to tell you a funny story about her children who she praises and finds to be the most amazing inspiration in her life.

Anyway, Kate is amazing, if you want to know another anecdote on her read the blog entry on this site http://motheroftheyear.blogspot.com/2006_06_01_motheroftheyear_archive.html on June 9th. She contributes everywhere she goes including her community. She gives and gives and gives all the time – I always think she’s paid it forward more than a lifetime but I do not often see her reap the benefits of doing so.