Catalogue of Chicks

Welcome to the Catalog of Chicks — a place where you can meet everyday women and read about their extraordinary acts of bravery and courage. We hope you are inspired by their stories — we certainly are!

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<<Previous Chick Next Chick>>Mary Toro
Palm Coast, FL
Submitted by: My sister, Sharon, got married at 18 to her now husband, Henry. Now 46, she had her first son at 19,named Joshua. At the age of 14, Josh was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma with a ratio of 50/50 survival rate. After going through chemo and radiation for a year, I'm pleased to announce that Josh, now 25, has been cancer free for over 10 years.  At the age of 23, my sister had her second child,my niece, Sarah Elizabeth. At the very young age of 2 months,Sarah was diagnosed with with a mild case of Spina Bifida. Sarah, now 23, Sarah still battles the ramifications of the disease every day of her life. In 1999, my sisters husband, Henry was hit by a car while driving his motorcycle home from work. An elderly lady, declared "legally blind" never saw him. After henry was dragged underneath the car 23 feet, she stopped the car because she thought she had a flat tire, but much to her surprise, it wasn't a flat, it was her car running over the top of Henry. Only by a miracle is he alive today! In 2004, my sisters husband, Henry survived a heart attack. In 2006, my sisters husband, Henry was hit by another car while riding his scooter to work one morning. Thrown about 15 feet up in the air, came down hit his head on the pavement. Taking to a near by hospital for "head trauma", was treated and released 1 1/2 hours later, with no follow up.  My sisters life over the last 25 years, as you can see, has not been an easy one. Not only has my sister had to endure taking care of sick children and a husband who has physical aliments from the accidents, she has had many financial up and downs due to the enormous doctor bills that has occurred, which in turn has caused my brother in law to have to work two jobs, which left my sister having to play the "roll" of Mom and Dad. Through it all, my sister has grown into one of the strongest women I know. Sure, at times she breaks down, but she has never given up. She persevers and stays on task of being the best Mom and Wife she can be. Thank you for listening to my story. May this touch your heart as much as it has touched mine. <<Previous Chick Next Chick>>