Courage. Grace. Fortitude.

Courage. Grace. Fortitude.

These are the defining qualities of a dear friend of mine. She is a woman who exhibits such bravery in the face of what is surely the greatest battle of her life that I often find myself saying that she is a better “man” than me. You see, she is waging a war on a terror that is unlike anything any superpower or military might has ever encountered. This battle has roiled inside of her for months; it is a war that is fueled by factors which are sadly common to so many others like her.

Like many of her comrades who wage similar wars, my friend is young, vibrant, talented, and kind. She is a daughter. A wife. A mother. And now she is a warrior.

Her battle is against cancer, and she embodies such fervent qualities that she echoes the call of countless survivors and womanly warriors of similar ilk. My friend is no stranger to the fight against women’s cancers. She has witnessed as the dreaded disease cruelly toyed with her family and friends. She worked in the trenches with the Susan G. Komen foundation. And now she faces a faceless foe, staring into the darkness and refusing to blink. Despite pain, discomfort, doubts, and disbelief, she battles – working each day, caring for her young daughter, standing side-by-side with her devoted husband. She pushes pain and doctor recommendations of rest aside in order to devote her time to teaching. She shows few chinks in her armor despite the onslaught of the effects of cancer and the treatment that is supposed to heal her. She wears a brave face and shares a warm heart and sharp sense of humor with her students and colleagues. Even as she walks this long road, she asks for little but gives so much. Now, I find myself asking what we could possibly give her to ease her pain, tell her troubles to tarry outside her door, or to allay her fears.

I always tell my students that the word “sucks” is never to be used in my classroom. Such common verbiage holds no place in our academic halls; however, I used that word today (with apologies). There was to be no denying it – Cancer Sucks.

My friend is truly a profile in courage. By exhibiting such grace under fire, she has somehow channeled the words and spirit of President John F. Kennedy who wrote, “The stories of past courage can define that ingredient – they can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul.” When Kennedy speaks of the courage of man, he speaks of mankind or womankind. Kennedy speaks of the courage that is required of not only world leaders, but of those who wage a daily war against such villainy as cancer. He speaks of the courage of my dear friend and colleague. In her battle against cancer, this teacher continues to teach, continues to offer hope, and continues to provide inspiration. And if it is for each man to look into his own soul, well she’s doing just that. She’s digging deep and again prompting me to say that she’s more “man” than I could ever be.

Like a boxer with an entourage of trainers and supporters, she has us in her corner. She’s coming out swinging, and she’ll keep swinging through the bell. This fighter and her entourage will never throw in the towel.