Wednesday, October 2, 2013
My son Christopher had a report to complete last year for school. He chose general George Patton to do the report on, and like any good mom, I helped him complete his assignment.
This entailed brushing up on my military facts, because although I knew General Patton was a complicated military figure, I knew little else. So, I sat down and read, and read some more. Then it hit me. My friend Suzanne Shea is a lot like General George Patton.
Many people don't know that as a young boy, he was accident prone and was thought to have ADD. Suzanne had her struggles ,as we all do. He also had an explosive temper. We all know Suzanne could be a little spicy at times. But God is wise and all knowing and gave her just what she needed.
When reading how he led the first tank battle in 1917, I likened it to Suzanne's battle with triple negative breast cancer, a little known rarer form of the disease. she was the first one I ever knew that had it. She was the first one to try so many of the upcoming medications. The maven, the one that , all that come after her ,will be measured by. Diving into treatments we knew nothing of the side effects, she was willing, knowing that there was no cure, but hope for another day with her family, and paving new ground for others. A visionary, just like Patton.
Patton was brave, oh so brave, putting U.S. troops on the offensive just like Suzanne did to her cancer. Pushing it back each and every time it threatened her. Now that's bravery. Countless battles for Patton, countless surgeries for Suzanne. Fearless, dedicated, strong. Even among a series of defeats, don't give up! He taught others how to be strong, just as Suzanne taught our whole community about strength.
And all the while, not realizing it ,Patton would become a larger than life persona, a four star general. Suzanne Shea, she did just that, she became larger than life, a winner, one that could not , would not give up. While General Patton does posses a Purple Heart, Suzanne Shea has more than that, my heart. And the hearts of so many. I will take her battle scars with me, go forward with my life and never forget my personal 4 star General, Suzanne Shea.
