I wave and mouth the words, I love you, to my husband. With tears rolling down my face, I give him one last glance as the bus pulls away. It will be a year before I see him again. I buckle our newborn son in his car seat. He is just 6 weeks old. Our daughter climbs in, and we head home. In just a few months, I will pack up our home in Fort Riley, Kansas, and move to Louisiana. Fast forward a few months. The children and I are settled in our home, in Louisiana. I am fortunate that I get to talk to my husband several times per month, even though he is deployed to Iraq. He is able to see his son grow through pictures. We were blessed on a few occasions and we were able to video chat. He missed our son crawling, his first steps, and his first word. But we were thankful that we were able to communicate as often as we did. So many spouses go months without talking to their service member. It's not long before I start back to work. I enjoy working, but working as a single mom with a new baby and a teenager isn't for the faint of heart. Getting up at 5 am, to get our son ready, make breakfast, get myself ready, and head out the door on time, can be quite challenging. Most mornings were hectic, at best. I was always in a rush, and almost always forgot something. After working 8.5 to 9 hours, I leave to pick up our son at daycare and then make it to our daughter's school just in time to watch her game. It was either softball or soccer. Oh, and let's not forget about piano lessons. It was difficult, and it was busy. As a military spouse, I've overcame many challenges. But I believe the biggest challenge, for me, was more about what my husband was missing out on. Yes, I missed him terribly. Yes, it was difficult being a single mom and working. But I was safe. I wasn't in another country fighting a war. I wasn't separated from my children for an entire year. I wasn't having to watch my son's first steps through videos, or hearing his first word over the telephone. I was there. I got to experience it all. I didn't miss any of it. My challenge was knowing how much my husband was missing, and I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't fix it. I just reminded him how much we loved him, and that the only thing he needed to worry about was staying safe. I would take care of the home front. And I did. Looking back, I question how I ever managed that crazy, busy life, without losing my mind. But when you are in the moment, you don't think about the craziness. You don't think about how you will make it. You just do it. You don't have a choice, and you push through. Although life was busy at times, I would do it all over again. I don't regret a second of it. It has contributed to who I am today. I am tough, and I am a fighter. I am an army wife.

I treat others how I would want to be treated. If my actions can put a smile on your face, it's done. If my actions can benefit someone, it's done. Nothing gives me a greater feeling of joy and happiness than to help and give back. Empathy is one of the greatest gifts we possess. After my mother was diagnosed with Leukemia (Sept., 2021), I realized how important support was to cancer patients. As I sat at her bedside filling out numerous applications, to help her with the costs associated with cancer treatment, I became aware of the large number of patients with no support. When my mother was undergoing a lumbar puncture or a bone marrow biopsy, I would make my way around the floor. Each room I came upon, I would peek around the door. As each patient looked my way, I gave them this great big smile. I blew them a kiss and gave them a thumbs up. Between each patient's room I would stop and give myself a minute or two to regroup. Here I was, happy and healthy, blessed beyond anything I deserve; yet, my heart is heavy and sad. What makes me any better than them? Nothing! Nothing makes me better. Illness, especially cancer, is evil. It knows no boundaries. No one is immune. Something I can give to those cancer patients, that is free and costs absolutely nothing, is empathy.

After my mother was diagnosed with Leukemia, my father and I became her caregivers. As I sat with her, at her bedside, I realized just how important patient advocacy is. There were so many cancer patients at MD Anderson that did not have family at their bedside. Whether it was because their family did not have the ability to be there, or because they had no family to speak of; the result was the same. They were alone. The social workers at the cancer treatment facilities provide extremely useful and important information regarding organizations that help. Some organizations offer financial assistance, while others offer emotional support. But who would help the patients navigate all the paperwork? Who would help them fill out the numerous pages of questionnaires? These patients need an advocate. My goal is to be their advocate. I will be their voice, and I will help them in every way possible. The way I plan on achieving my goal and becoming successful is to work hard, never give up, and stay focused. There are so many resources out there. It only takes time, commitment, and dedication. I will succeed.

After my mother was diagnosed with Leukemia, my father and I became her caregivers. As I sat with her, at her bedside, I realized just how important patient advocacy is. There were so many cancer patients at MD Anderson that did not have family at their bedside. Whether it was because their family did not have the ability to be there, or because they had no family to speak of; the result was the same. They were alone. The social workers at the cancer treatment facilities provide extremely useful and important information regarding organizations that help. Some organizations offer financial assistance, while others offer emotional support. But who would help the patients navigate all the paperwork? Who would help them fill out the numerous pages of questionnaires? These patients need an advocate. My goal is to be their advocate. I will be their voice, and I will help them in every way possible. The way I plan on achieving my goal and becoming successful is to work hard, never give up, and stay focused. There are so many resources out there. It only takes time, commitment, and dedication. I will succeed.

I treat others how I would want to be treated. If my actions can put a smile on your face, it's done. If my actions can benefit someone, it's done. Nothing gives me a greater feeling of joy and happiness than to help and give back. Empathy is one of the greatest gifts we possess. After my mother was diagnosed with Leukemia (Sept., 2021), I realized how important support was to cancer patients. As I sat at her bedside filling out numerous applications, to help her with the costs associated with cancer treatment, I became aware of the large number of patients with no support. When my mother was undergoing a lumbar puncture or a bone marrow biopsy, I would make my way around the floor. Each room I came upon, I would peek around the door. As each patient looked my way, I gave them this great big smile. I blew them a kiss and gave them a thumbs up. Between each patient's room I would stop and give myself a minute or two to regroup. Here I was, happy and healthy, blessed beyond anything I deserve; yet, my heart is heavy and sad. What makes me any better than them? Nothing! Nothing makes me better. Illness, especially cancer, is evil. It knows no boundaries. No one is immune. Something I can give to those cancer patients, that is free and costs absolutely nothing, is empathy.

One thing that gives me hope that the future will be better is the birth of a child. The innocence of a child is the one thing that is most near perfection. Hope lives in the birth of new life. That new life has never been tainted, never been hurt, never experienced pain or heartache. As long as we continue loving and nurturing our children, there will always be hope. Prosperous children result in a prosperous world.