"A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend." -Unknown

Typically, when a 21-year-old college girl mentions the words, "best friend," what comes to mind might include a roommate, a sister, a coworker...basically someone around the same age with relatively similar interests. Although I do have many close friends who meet the above criteria, none of them can really compare to the woman I have known and loved since the day I was born: my grandma.

It seems we realize as we age just how blessed we truly are. Even though my childhood memories are rather blurred, one common denominator in almost every single memory I do possess is my grandparents.

Don't get me wrong, I love my parents more than words can say and I am incredibly proud of the parents they became after having me so young, but looking back I can honestly say that one of the most consistent and stable aspects of my life was always my Gram.

She took the role of grandmother and successfully transformed it into the role of superhero; one that I needed and loved as though she was my own mother.

So, why am I writing this? Why don't I just tell her all of this in person? Well, remember how I said we often fail to realize how blessed we are until we grow up? Sometimes, life throws us curve balls.

It's funny how the years just kind of trickle by us, always at seemingly slow speeds but somehow feeling like only a split second has passed. Everything becomes a blur. Until something happens that alters your life more than anything has before.

April 2016 was when my Gram was diagnosed with an aggressive form of ALS. For those who don't know, ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or for those of us without a degree in Medicine, a neuro-degenerative disease that attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, ultimately leading to full-body paralysis and death.

My grandma is still fighting a challenging and exhausting battle against this disease.

Unfortunately, the disease is winning. She has lost the ability to speak and move on her own and is in a constant state of pain unless heavily medicated. We are unable to foresee how much longer she will be here, if much longer at all. However, looking back on the last 9 months, I've realized why my Gram was, is, and always will be, my superhero.

My Gram, Susie Q as my Gramps likes to call her, has a smile that can light up a whole building, and a laugh that's so contagious you would think someone leaked laughing gas into the room.

Throughout the good, bad, and the ugly, my grandma has never lost her charismatic sense of humor or beautiful smile. She has remained a humble, positive, God-loving woman, all while facing a type of adversity that most of us can only imagine enduring.

When I look back on the 21 years I was able to spend with you, I promise to continuously think of the abundance of positive memories you brought to my life. I'll think of the hot, summer days spent in Shipshewana, one of your favorite places to take me. I'll think of the time spent in your garden, helping you pick (but mostly eat) strawberries and other delicious produce.

I'll think of the sleepovers spent in your big comfy bed and the competitive rounds of Sorry and Yahtzee that would last for hours. Every time I turn on the oven, I'll think of all the great meals you provided for your family, and all of the time you spent trying to teach me how to cook (I promise I'm getting better).

At the end of the day, I will never think of you as your disease, but rather as the best teacher, grandmother, and best friend that a girl could ask for.

Thanks for everything, Gram. Love you always.