|
|
::
Point of View ::
I came to know Margaret Brothers when I was a young attorney, fresh out of law school. Margaret spoke her mind cautiously, voicing her opinion only when necessary and only in sincerity, a quality that was rare then, and even more rare today. I remember bringing my wife-to-be in to meet my coworkers for the first time. Upon her departure, while the other women chatted animatedly about their approval of my new fiancée, Margaret sat quietly in the back, her hands folded in her lap. As the other women returned to work, Margaret was the last to leave. As she stood up and began to walk to the door, my heart dropped. I was sure she disapproved. As she reached the door, she quickly spun around and looked me directly in eyes. “I approve,” was all she said. And that was all I needed.
And so began my friendship with Margaret. In the years that followed, I would come to know Margaret as a deeply loving mother, a hardworking employee, a true and dedicated friend, and above all, a committed Christian. She was well dressed, walked with poise and posture, and always carried a legal pad even years after leaving the legal profession to become a member of my congressional staff. She was always matter of fact, and her comments were to the point. And she used her smile like she used her words: carefully, genuinely, and warmly.
Three years ago, Margaret went to the doctor and heard the words that 200,000 women hear a year: “You have breast cancer.” Naturally, she and her family were shaken. For three years since that day, Margaret endured doctor appointments, surgical procedures, and chemotherapy treatments. She lost some things - her hair, her appetite, and her energy to name a few. But Margaret never lost faith in God or her devotion to others. Even when her strength was at its weakest and her own personal needs at their greatest, she came to work everyday because she knew that in helping others - whether helping a senior get their Social Security check, or helping a veteran get their benefits - she was living a life worth living.
Margaret died October 17th of this year, surrounded by family and loved ones. We gathered on a rainy Wednesday to say goodbye. While the loss of Margaret remains considerable, we continue to feel an overwhelming gratitude for her life. In her battle with cancer and her struggle to remain a mother, a wife, and a servant of others through it all, we each came to know a new level of gratitude for each day we are given.
With Thanksgiving Day just having past, as we push back from the table, stuffed with turkey and dressing, it is truly a time to think about what we are thankful for. We live in a society where complaining has become good talk radio, and expressing gratitude is going out of style. Perhaps, amid our daily duties and struggles, an occasion for gratitude seems hard to find. We may have pressing financial needs, urgent family problems, or deep personal sorrows or concerns. We may be too well aware of the evils and injustices of our time. The evening news and the morning paper are quick to remind us of these.
But while the coming month is a season overshadowed by the glow of tinsel and sparkling lights, the stress of holiday decorating, and the frustration of parking at the mall, it is well worth it to take a moment to truly appreciate our health, the health of our families, and the phenomenal efforts of those working to cure disease in our country. Living with this gratitude makes us more optimistic and able to cope with the hard times, for truly none of us know when those hard times may come.
Most importantly, in having this spirit of gratitude, we also have a spirit of responsibility. We have a responsibility to our own personal health; to exercise judgment in how we eat and how we take care of our bodies. We have a responsibility as a community to raise awareness of disease, to work together for cures, and to share a common commitment to search for solutions to bring access and affordability to health care. In my gratitude for my friendship with Margaret and for the courage she displayed through her struggle with breast cancer, I have an even greater commitment to these responsibilities and the great need for medical research and development, not only to cure cancer, but also to combat destructive diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and AIDS.
Twenty years ago, very few people openly discussed breast cancer. Today, breast cancer awareness is displayed by various organizations and facets of all kinds, both in and out of the health care community. Most of all, breast care awareness is highlighted by the growing number of survivors who are alive to share their stories of difficulty and triumph.
So as we start this season of giving, we are thankful for the courage displayed by the victims, survivors, volunteers, and professionals who combat breast cancer and so many other serious diseases each day. Because of their struggle, there is hope. And while this hope doesn’t come in festive wrapping paper with a neatly tied bow, it is among the greatest gifts we can give this season and throughout the year.
|
|
IN
BRIEF ....
|
|
Strong
Growth Continues Through 2004
|
|
ON
THE HILL ....
|
|
Current
Floor Proceedings
Bills
Coming Up This Week
Monthly
Whip Calendar |
|
OFFICE
LOCATIONS ....
|
307 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202.225.6365
505 INDEPENDENCE PKWY, SUITE 104
Chesapeake, VA 23322
757.382.0080
2903 Boulevard, Suite B
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
804.526.4969
425 H. South Main Street
Emporia, VA 23847
434.634.5575
|
|
|