Community Corner

Feeling a Bit Down? 9 Stories to Help Inspire You

Yes, everyday life can be a challenge. Need some inspiration from those who "climbed a mountain?"

This article is by Dave Colby.

Is daily life really so tough?

Well, yes, it can be.

Here, though, is to keeping things in perspective. For more than a month now, Patch and Grape-Nuts have teamed up to present stories about your neighbors - neighbors who have faced challenges that would seem insurmountable to many of us.

But not to the people we've featured in our series, Journeys.

Not surprisingly, the stories have generated dozens of comments on Patch and on Facebook: "Great story..." "Thanks for sharing..." "So wonderfully inspiring..."

And, so, here they are again. Great stories shared to inspire. Take a look at what these people have faced. Then click on the story to see their responses. And, feel better about things.

From Preemie to High School Actor, Claire McDonald Beat the Odds
When you watch 15-year-old Claire McDonald perform in a school musical, you are struck by her beautiful voice, captivating smile and grace. You might never guess that the teen from Sammamish had to battle for her life at birth and was left with several great challenges to overcome.
_____

JBLM Family Continues To Fight Daughter's Rare Heart Condition
When Alysa Kerbs was born a little more than 10 years ago, her heart was the size of a grapefruit.
The youngest of five children was born with severe congenital dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart is enlarged and weakened to the point it can't pump blood properly. Doctors gave Tyler and Mindy Kerbs' daughter a slim chance at survival. They braced for the worst.
_____

When a Child's Needs Mean Changing Careers
Despite challenging economic times, writer Amelia Ramstead built a business that allows her to meet the needs of her son.
_____

Superhero School Librarian Helps Feed 500 Hungry Kids a Week
Evergreen Middle School Librarian Shauna Yusko may lack a fancy costume, except for her collection of brightly colored wigs, but many in her community see her as a real life superhero.
_____

Mom, Breast Cancer Survivor Debbie Cantwell Pays it Forward
Debbie Cantwell was just 41 when she was diagnosed in 2006 with breast cancer. She underwent a bilateral mastectomy, followed by eight rounds of chemo and 37 radiation treatments.
_____

Wheelchair-Bound Kirkland Mom Will Trek 300 Miles to Raise Money for Guide Dogs of America
When Tania Finlayson came up with a plan to raise money for Guide Dogs of America by traveling 300 miles this summer in her wheelchair her husband Ken says, “I thought she was crazy.”
_____

Teen Makes Junior National Honor Society After Battling a Brain Tumor
After surviving major surgery and a long and challenging recovery, 15 year-old Julianna Chiesa is an academic achiever with a bright future ahead of her.
_____

Triple Amputee and Motivational Speaker Carol Decker Inspires Others
Carol Decker had to fight for her life and lost her sight, her feet and her left hand and right ring finger to a massive sepsis infection following the birth of her youngest daughter. Despite all she has lost she rejoices in the “normal life” she shares with her husband Scott and their daughters.
_____

Successful Attorney Cyrus Habib Overcomes Blindness to Advocate for Others
Cyrus Habib is a technology lawyer and state representative for Washington state’s 48th district.
A proud graduate of Bellevue public schools, he won a Rhodes scholarship to study at Oxford and graduated from Yale Law School. He plays the piano and enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. And he is also blind, having lost his sight to a rare form of childhood cancer at age eight.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Bellevue