Over ten years ago, doctors diagnosed my mother with bilateral breast cancer. At such a young age, I questioned why someone so closely related to me would have to endure such a trying and difficult battle. I learned from my Catholic faith that God plans each person’s life specifically for him or her. Given that information, I began to understand that He wanted my mother to show strength and courage even through a poignant experience to her children. Because of this obstacle early in my life, I have adopted the traits of such strength in my own life, just as I believe God intended. I feel that God had a similar intention for Shannon; He wanted Shannon to show the world that even when faced with absolutely tough and tragic situations, everyone
