When we are young, we look up to all kinds of people and as we grow we see that those people can change. Now I'm sure most of us, if not all of us, looked up to our parents and that's great. I know if I become even half the woman my mother is, I would be very proud. I'm going to share with you how two people very close to me taught me to never give up on anything, no matter what. I don't even think they know that I took away this lesson from them and I still learn from them everyday. These two people are my aunt and uncle.
Even though they both have been a part of my life for a while now, I didn't start taking away any lessons from them util I was about 16 years old. It was around my 16th birthday that started off like any other normal day, I got up and went to school, came home and sat down to do homework. A few hours had past and my mom wasn't home yet, so I called her and got no answer. I waited a little bit and she finally called me back; she sounded upset so I asked her what was wrong and she told me that my aunt was in a pretty bad car wreck, I asked if she was OK, but I wasn't given a direct answer; she just told me she would be home soon.
About two days had passed before my mom told my brother and I what had really happened and what my aunt's state was. I was still confused and didn't understand everything that was being said, but I did understand the words "permanent brain damage." I started to cry; I was scared not only for my aunt, but for my uncle as well. I watched my aunt pull my uncle out of a really dark place and she made him want to be a better person. They had only been married a short time and I could see how much her being in the hospital and not being able to go home with him was hurting him. I thought to myself, "Was this going to hurt their relationship?"
Days went on and every day my uncle was at her bedside until the day she woke up. Her memory was a little fuzzy, but she knew who everyone in the room was and that was a good sign. We soon learned she couldn't recall some long-term memories. It was OK though, because we all knew that it was going to take little steps at time for life to get back on track. She finally got to come home right before Christmastime, so it was a good time for family. My mom was kept in the loop with how she was doing and how doctors said that she may not have that "normal" life she had before; I understood what they meant but do they even know what normal is? My aunt did a lot of pretty cool things. She cooked all the time and she ran in marathons. The doctors told us don't be shocked if that doesn't happen again. I started to get upset again because that thought of what could happen to my aunt and uncle's marriage. I was so used to watching things fall apart in front of me and I didn't want that to happen to them. I watched how they made each other better before all this happened and I wanted them to have that forever.
As days and months went on I watched my uncle do everything he could to help my aunt make it through her days no matter how long or short they were. He learned to cook all the meals they loved to eat and even more so they could try new things. He made sure whatever doctor she needed she had the best of the best. Some days I could see were harder than others not only on her but on the him too, but they both hung in there and made it. A few years had passed and she was still going to her doctors but she had already proven them wrong in many ways, she went on her first run with my uncle in a local park, she started to cook again along side him and they would make dinner together.
They kept working out together and my aunt got even stronger to a point where after about a year, she and my uncle ran their first marathon together and crossed the finish line together. I watched as they started to travel together, her shorter days became longer days. She started to be able to cook on her own again and started to even put together a cookbook. A few more months passed and she started to do more and more on her own, walking the dog and being able to be in the house alone, my uncle would still call her to make sure she was OK and having a good day. When her birthday rolled around my uncle threw her a wonderful party with all her favorite food and when it came time for dessert my uncle gave this heartfelt speech about how much he loved her and cared for her. It was beautiful.
She had come a long way and proved lots of people wrong and then I watched as she did the one thing doctors said she might never do again... She started to drive. Their dog had gotten out of the yard and my uncle went after him on foot, and without thinking my aunt grabbed the car keys and started to drive. She didn't even second guess herself or even realize what had happened till it was over, and with that she started driving a little more when she felt like it, short drives to the gym or to a store not far from the house, but where she was going didn't really matter — what mattered was she was doing the one thing that many didn't think she ever would.
This year will mark eight years since her wreak, eight years I watched her with the help of my uncle work back up the ladder with small steps, with some tumbles here and there, but she didn't give up and he didn't give up on her. Eight years I watched my uncle do everything he could for her, to make her healing steps as smooth as they could be. How they made it through the last eight years together.
Watching the last eight years with them has taught me a few things. One: never give up on something, no matter what anyone tells you — they can be the ones who are wrong. Two: Love is stronger than anything in the world, no matter what happens. Something that could have ruined my aunt and uncle's wonderful lives instead brought them closer together, and showed how much they really cared for each other. Three: That I deserve someone who is going to treat me like that, and be able to handle me even at my worse. It's taught me that if someone is going to give up on me, then I need to walk away before they drag me down.
I love both my aunt and uncle so much and I'm very grateful for them and everything they give me in life, even these small lessons (or very big ones for me). I hope that I keep taking lessons away from them that will help me through my tough spots in life. Every time I feel like giving up, I remember that I'm not alone and I won't have to do anything alone — all I have to to remember is "never give up on anything, no matter what people tell you"
You control your life, not anyone else. Want something? Work for it!
