#Stories of Strength: One Tough Cookie

We all know Michele is one tough cookie.

Having been raised by Michele, believe me, Bradley and I have a long list of rather embarrassing childhood stories, where at the time, we were just too young to understand all of these acts were done out of an endless love and fierce support.

I remember my first day of freshman orientation at Claremont McKenna College in California.

My parents and I had driven out to Claremont, CA from Dallas together. The 22 hour drive seemed long as hell and something about driving through West Texas and the desert doesn’t exactly get you fired up to start school at a place where you know no one. My parents knew I was nervous, sad, anxious.

After the very first meeting, there was a social for new students and their parents. I was nervously just sort of standing there with my parents.

So Michele sprung into action.

She turned to me and said, “Stay here, I’ll be right back.” I knew this was not going to be good.

She wandered off through the crowd and about 10 minutes later came back with two other huge, strapping 6 foot 3 and 6 foot 6 freshman boys. She looked at me and said, “Zach, meet Craig and Dan. They are playing basketball too and you should meet them.”

With a face about as red as a stop sign, I met two people who to this day are still some of my best friends.

Michele’s courage that day remains a story we still laugh about to this day. Michele is courageous, never been afraid of anyone, and never takes ‘no’ for an answer.

And I know she will continue to attack this with the same ferocity and will.

As we continue to monitor her body’s reaction to the chemotherapy drugs we will keep everyone up to date.

“And I know, you’re stronger than that.”

Love,

Zach