Key to Success

The goal of this travel bug is to travel around and gather stories of achievement, success and inspiration. If you have a personal story of accomplishment or know a story of someone that has beat the odds, please share the story. I would also like for the bug to visit sites of inspiration.

I would like to share the story of my mother (1938 - 2000). In 1991 our family experienced a house fire and my mother received burns over 60% of her body. She lost all of her toes and the tips of her fingers down to the first knuckle. Skin grafts are very fragile, the skin is damaged very easily and there are no sweat glands on the burned areas. Therefore, the last nine years of her life she struggled with constant sores, overheating and the struggle to learn new ways to do things that most of us take for granted(i.e. opening a soda can, typing, and sorting paper). Finger nails and finger prints are more useful than you can imagine. She always had the will to be independent and she had to discover tools to assist in that independence. She was also a great Grandmother to my nephew, spending the time every day to read to him, play games, or teach him about any and every topic he had questions about (all kids should be so lucky). My mother always took the time to explain to kids at daycare (or anyone that was curious) what had happened to her hands and legs and enjoyed answering their questions about how she has to do things differently now and how dangerous fire can be. Even in the face of adversity my mother didn't let it drag her down and she never gave up. She always took the time to help others and answered curious questions. Her caring spirit lives on in me and others that knew her.
GEO.JOE