Question of the Day | 06/10/2009 12:00 am

What inspiring story of overcoming adversity do you know?

Nobuyuki Tsujii recently became the first blind pianist ever to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Join Candice Bergen in the conversation and tell us: What other inspiring story of overcoming adversity do you know?

Candice Bergen | 06/10/2009 1:00 am

Candice Bergen's Story of a Stellar Individual

My daughter has been working with severely handicapped children in Ethiopia for the last ten months and has seen ONLY tales of overcoming great adversity. Kids whose backs are bent over with spinal TB who are the top of their class. Kids who beg for their blind father and are possessed of stunning grace and dignity. I met lately the most vibrant, luminous young man who at age four was left for dead, machete wounds on his scalp, in a ditch in Rwanda. An American aid worker found him, brought him back to America and she and her husband adopted him. They live in Minnesota. He is a star ice hockey player. He just graduated college with a degree in health care. He is a stellar human being

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Adversity, kidnapped at 4, hit by a car at 8, raped at 14, hit by another car at 18, beaten and verbally abused entire childhood. over 20 operations in the course of 53 yrs. cervical cancer while pregnant, colon cancer with one reoccurance, breast cancer, and skin cancer.

I help raise my younger siblings, there is 10 yrs difference in our ages, parents were drunks, I was not allow to see my biological father until I was able to make that decision myself.

I graduated from college, joined the Navy, married, had two beautiful children who have grown up to be productive, caring members of American Society.

When furnerals were needed (mostly Military) I took care of it, (didn’t matter to the rest of the family I was in pain as well). I took my mother into my home when she became homeless, when everyone of my siblings had kids I provided what ever furniture or clothing what ever I could to help out. Now they didn’t ask for my help, this is something I did because I could and I wanted too.

And now at 53 I live alone dealing with physical pain on an hourly basis about to embark on a new adventure, I’m moving to TN to start a new chapter in my life. I’ll be a 6 hr. drive from my kids but I got to go where I can afford to live.

Adversity, this is just some of the things I’ve been through, but I’ve also spent time in the white house for christmas parties, been to marine corp balls, seen this beautiful land.

I’ve served my country with respect and honor, and as a disabled female vertern I have seen my fellow service men and women come home broken both physically and mentally.

All Americans who endured 9/11, bombings of our base’s overseas, helping others through out the world, No American can say they have not at one time or another seen and overcome Adversity.

By DeniseannTaylor on 06/10/2009 1:53 am

Deniseann, inspired and in awe about your story. You are a rock. May you have a well deserved rest in TN.

By JeannotKensinger on 06/10/2009 7:55 am

Deniseann – My God, what you have endured and triumphed over is absolutely staggering. Good luck to you on your next chapter and congratulations on a life well-lived despite all your hardships.

Candice Bergen

By Candice Bergen on 06/10/2009 11:55 am

Deniseann, you are very inspirational, indeed. I feel like a wimp whining about my lifelong problems: depression, growing up without a father around, being bullied, only having one real girlfriend my whole life (a true love) who died, career failure, etcetera. I suppose we all have a fair share of elephants on our back, but your story puts things into perspective - as do several other amazing lifetime accounts.

My mother overcame some great adversities, and is my greatest inspiration. Mike Utley, who used to be a top offensive guard for the Detroit Lions, is another. He was paralyzed from the waist down in a 1991 football game. I would recommend anyone research his amazing story of courage and accomplishment.

You know, an aside here. Wayne Fontes is an inspiration to me. The Lions went to the NFC Conference Championship game that year. In the offseason, Detroit’s other guard, All-Pro Eric Andolsek, was run over by a wayward drunk driver in his front yard and killed. The Lions were never quite the same. Fans in Detroit made fun of head coach Wayne Fontes and virtually drove him out of town. I always admired Wayne, his warm, humorous, fun-loving character. I remember him going out of his way to pose for a photo with my beloved girlfriend, Jude, in 1990. I still have that photo displayed in my living room. But all Fontes’ teams did was make the playoffs 5 times in the 1990’s. We all know the Lions have since been the laughingstock of sports. And the great Barry Sanders retired not too long after Fontes was fired. With a bad back that left him in tremendous pain, and days before Sanders’ induction into the Hall of Fame, who was in the crowd for Barry in Canton, Ohio, all the way up from Florida: Wayne Fontes.

By JamestheGame on 06/10/2009 10:57 am

I really should proofread before I post. I meant days before Fontes was scheduled for back surgery, Fontes showed up at Sanders’ induction ceremony.

By JamestheGame on 06/10/2009 5:58 pm

Deniseann

Thank you for your story and thank you for your service to our country. My son is in the army and has been to the mideast 3 times and as I have concern about his future I read your story and know that where there is strength there is action.

By FrannieEm on 06/10/2009 3:59 pm

Frannie, be asured that the powers that be in the Military do everything they can to keep our service Men and Women safe. And when we do get hurt or injured they take care of us physically, mentally and fiancially if need be. There are Chaplins every where in the Military no matter which religion you belong to and there available when needed or asked for.

I am proud to be a Navy VET, and the 21 1/2 yrs I was a Marne wife on top of that I was poud to serve the Marines throgh the various orgs they have for Navy, Marine families while the other spouse is overseas.

You know the say "We take care of our own" , The military really does, and the wives, husbands and even the Kids learn that the guy next door could be in a foxhole with you, so stay strong and true and you’ll make it.

So many Miliatary family’s are suffering, 9/11 put our country on alert and to this date people all over our Country are still in pain. But we get our strenght back, we hold our heads up, and we go on, because someone else out there will needs us, or want a shoulder to lean on.

Stay strong Frannie, I’ll be praying for your son’s safe return.

By DeniseannTaylor on 06/10/2009 4:09 pm

Deniseann

My birth father served in the Navy in WWII and my Uncle was a Navy pilot that suffered serious burns and wounds in a crash - he lost one of his arms as well, (after Korea) I remember my dad telling us stories about life on a battle ship in the pacific. He joined before he graduated high school - got his dad to lie for him, and it was the one thing he was always proud of.

My son was supposed to get out of the Army this week but the president reinstated Stop Loss on everyone that was supposed to get out after May to be deployed to Iraq this fall. He so wants out and has petitioned for release since he has already served in Iraq (2) and Afghanistan (1), we are waiting for the results because he has been in 7 years and is very war weary. He says he will face and do what he has to, but as his mother I know what it is doing to him.

Thank you for your prayers and I will stay strong.

By FrannieEm on 06/10/2009 4:27 pm

Frannie, your a military brat like me, so you’ve heard the war stories. But this war is nothing like the wars of our fathers, the dangers are greater and the technology is better. But that doesn’t change things. Your Son has done his duty, he should be allow to come home. He did his part of the CONTRACT that they make him sign, the Gov’t should honor their part. Those that are keeping this war going are sitting pretty in Washington. We, I mean us all Americans, need to make our Gov’t, stand by the contract and let our kids come home. It’s funny it’s only been in the recent past that our Presidents haven’t been in the military or been a lawyer. We have a lawyer now, but those use to be No.1 priorities. look at George Washington our first President, he was an Officer in the Military.

Until a person serves in the military or is married to a person in the military they have no idea. As parents we have to go by what our fathers told us if we didn’t serve. When the Marine Barracks were blown up in Baruit I thought It was the end of my life that I wouldn’t be able to raise my babies alone. But I didn’t know that my husband was on a plane already, he was coming home because I was in the hospital waiting for my surgery for cancer. I use to tease him how my cancer saved his life, but he would have been on the roof because of the job he held. I was so sad for all my friends who had lost their husbands, sons.

Frannie I am not a religious person, but I am a spiritual person, I beleive in God and Jesus, just not in oraganize religion (another way for man to control man), My friends have seen what you’ve wrote and asked me if it would be alright with you if they could have your son’s name so we can pray for him at our evening prays? Please let me know, we are already praying for "Frannie’s Son" but a first name would make it more personal. Thank You for being who you are :)

By DeniseannTaylor on 06/10/2009 5:46 pm

Deniseann

I have put his name on the internet before, but now my son has asked me not to. I don’t think it makes a difference whether you know the name or not, it is the motivation in one’s heart that makes all the difference.

I wasn’t a military brat because my father was only in the Navy for a couple of years until the end of WWII. After my uncle’s crash, he was no longer in the Navy, I heard the stories but only when he drank - which was a lot until he left when I was 9. My son was somewhat of a cool science nerd in high school and his first 2 years of college, but wanted to test himself physically so he joined the army. I think he wanted to learn to how to move in the world of men and learn the discipline it takes to become successful so he took a delayed entry and then 9/11 hit and the rest is history.

I worked for Eve Arden (do you remember the old TV show Our Miss Brooks?), her son was in Beirut at the time of the bombing of the Marine Barricks - he was a medic - that experience changed him forever because he lost his best friend and worked frantically to save others that he could not. That type of adversity is what I know my son has seen as well as so many others. I am glad your husband was on the plane coming home. It is funny how things work out.

By FrannieEm on 06/10/2009 7:53 pm

Frannie we prayed tonite for your son, when his name was to be said I said "the sone of Frannie Em" and that is how he will be reffered to as you request.

The Lord does work in mysterious ways. There are all those sayings we could use like, what goes around, comes around, and you’ll get yours in the end. But life is not a phrase, and we are all going through things, some good,some bad, but were all connected if we reach out to others. I truely belive that.

If you need to contact me, just email me and I’ll get back with you.

God Bless,

By DeniseannTaylor on 06/10/2009 10:02 pm

Deniseann, your the insperation today’s youth need, as well as others. Thank you for your message, your a great inspiration. Your kids truely have a great role model. Take the time to rest up, your new chapter in life is just another one to live and to share.
Im in a rut myself, but you’ve given me some knowledge to move foreward and to learn from it all.
Thank you

By JodieG on 06/11/2009 2:18 am

Jodie, Thank you. I learned a very long time ago that God was there for me no matter what happend in my life. Neither of my childern are as into God as me. But I respect there wish’s and feelings. I taught them to be independent and able to over come what ever life threw at them. All of my children’s friends also call me Mom, they knew I was a ship in the storm, if they came to me and told me what was going on, I would call their parents and explain what I’ve been told and ask them to allow their children to stay with us until they were able to go home. I never allowed my childrens friends to just hang, they were either invited or when they showed up I’d call their parents to let them know they were with me.

Being forced to leave my home and start over after 21 1/2 yrs of marriage was by far the hardest thing that had happened to me, harder then cancer, or getting beat up, or even the rape. I had lost everything I’d worked for over a 21 yr period. But I got through it and I’m still here,and I refuse to go anywhere until I have at least 6 grandchildren :)

By DeniseannTaylor on 06/11/2009 5:46 pm

Deniseanne, am so sorry your life has been filled with such horrors.. I understand how devastating assaults are… As a nursing student working in a VA Quadraplegic, Paraplegic Ward, I felt privileged to be among our brave young men..thank you for your service… I hope wonderful things happen on your new journey..

By katielady on 06/11/2009 5:52 pm

I can only say that you are an extremely strong human being. That’s a lot one person had to go through! The powers and the blessing of the universe are with you.

By AAmedee on 06/11/2009 7:44 pm