Buzz
People react to adversity in unique ways. Some surrender, others challenge their fate, and a few inspire us with their remarkable resilience. Not everyone faces hardships, but those who do, like the following individuals, show us how to transform misfortune into achievement.
10. Todd and Shelly Schupbach
After years of struggling to conceive, Shelly Schupbach and her husband, Todd, were overjoyed to welcome their baby boy, Nash. Their lives were filled with the happiness of watching their son experience the milestones of infancy. Then, on June 19, 2014, Shelly left her precious five-month-old son with the babysitter before heading to work. That was the last time she saw him alive.
Todd and Shelly received heartbreaking phone calls at work, informing them that Nash had stopped breathing during his sleep. At the hospital, the medical staff performed CPR until Shelly was ready to let go. “As a mother, you just want to hold him, and rock him, and tell him it’s going to be okay,” Shelly recalled. “It was the hardest day of my life.”
The death certificate brought even more devastation. The cause of death was determined to be positional asphyxia. As Shelly shared on her blog: “My worst nightmare confirmed. He suffered. It was preventable. I left him at a place where his life would be taken. I smiled at him, and he smiled back, and I walked away unaware that this choice would change my life forever.”
However, Shelly and Todd refused to let their son’s memory be marked by sorrow. Nash was the baby with the bright, infectious smile who brought joy to everyone who met him.
As Nash’s six-month milestone approached on July 9, 2014, family members decided to honor his memory by performing random acts of kindness in his name. They vowed to continue this tradition on the ninth of each month, at least until his first birthday. With every kind act, they would give out a card featuring Nash’s photo and the words “Have a Nash day.”
The movement gained momentum on social media, and soon, people across the United States were taking part in 'Have a Nash day.' Then, someone from Spain shared it, and the Schupbachs realized the movement had gone global. Now, Shelly looks forward to Nash's birthday again, inspired by all the people honoring her son.
9. Allan Buchmann
Allan Buchmann tragically lost his 19-year-old daughter, Chitra, to an eating disorder and other addictions. He believes that with the right professional help, she could have been saved. Buchmann also feels his daughter was denied opportunities as a producer in theater because of her gender.
To honor his daughter's legacy and provide opportunities to other women who faced similar barriers, Allan established the Culture Project in 1996. His mission is to empower women artists who use theater to tackle societal issues, including women's rights and human rights.
Allan’s ambition to become the leading platform for new works by women made a significant leap when the Culture Project theater in New York City was renamed the Lynn Redgrave Theater in 2013, in tribute to the late actress. The event attracted prominent actors such as Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Trudie Styler, and Vanessa Redgrave.
“We are seeking women’s voices that have the power to shape our future, voices that are distinctive and full of promise, voices that, with the right support and visibility, can fulfill their potential for the betterment of society,” said Allan. “I believe creating this platform for women is what my daughter would have wanted me to do.”
8. Sharon Everett
In July 2000, Sharon Everett, a 51-year-old wife and mother from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, was on her way home from the grocery store. Unbeknownst to her, pool chemicals in the shopping bags behind the driver’s seat had leaked onto other items she was bringing inside. As she turned into her driveway, the inside of her car suddenly burst into flames.
By the time firefighters rescued her from the car, nearly 60 percent of Sharon's body was severely burned with third-degree burns. Her ears, eyelids, lips, nose, and hair had been destroyed.
Sharon doesn't remember the fire itself. However, her husband and five adult children recall her five-month-long, drug-induced coma and how emotionally exhausting it was for them to care for her when she finally returned home seven months later.
Through it all, Sharon remained strong and never complained. She had the unwavering support of her family and community. Still, as her daughter, Katie, shared, 'You feel so helpless, like you’re the only ones who’ve ever been through this traumatic injury.'
Katie discovered the Phoenix Society, a support organization for burn patients located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She encouraged Sharon and the rest of the family to attend the 2001 World Burn Congress hosted by the society. There, Sharon connected with other burn survivors leading fulfilling, joyful lives.
Sharon started volunteering at her hospital's burn clinic, offering sensitivity training for those interacting with burn survivors. In 2011, she and her husband, George, were honored with the Harman Award for their exceptional leadership and support of the Phoenix Society.
Although Sharon still faces difficult days, she reassures other burn survivors, saying, 'Your life may be changed, but it’s not over. And in many ways, it’s going to be even better than it was before.'
7. Steve James
Steve James was deeply moved by the generosity of his daughter, Brittney. In 1998, 16-year-old Brittney decided to sponsor a Kenyan boy named Newton through the Christian Children’s Fund, hoping to meet him in person one day. Sadly, she never made it to Kenya. In 2001, Brittney was found dead in her apartment at the age of 19.
In honor of Brittney's memory, Steve traveled to Kenya six months later to meet Newton. He also brought supplies and medical equipment for his trip. As a certified registered nurse anesthetist, Steve was determined to use his medical expertise to help the people in Kenya.
However, Steve was unprepared for the overwhelming extent of the suffering he witnessed. Upon returning to the United States, he shared the struggles of unmet medical needs in Kenya. Together with his wife, Greta, Steve founded Kenya Relief to make a difference.
Steve recalls, 'There were times when we would distribute medicine from the back of a van.' He remembers one trip where they treated 800 patients a day, helping a total of 2,400 people. 'Unfortunately, we couldn’t provide complete care due to limited resources.'
A decade later, James and his team established Brittney’s Home of Grace, a 60-acre orphanage located just outside Migori, Kenya. The facility provides care for dozens of children and even offers medical services to adults. Kenya Relief continued to grow, adding separate dormitories for boys and girls, a library, a cafeteria, and much more. Steve also had a vision to build a school and a hospital.
Steve remarked, 'There’s no better place to leave a legacy than Kenya.' It’s safe to say that his daughter would have wholeheartedly agreed with him.
6. Katherine Pearson & Ryan Dawson
On April 9, 2009, Detective Allen Pearson, a member of the Lenoir County Special Response Team (SRT) in North Carolina, responded to a report of an unknown suspect shooting a gun at homes. The suspect, later identified as Doug Phillips, had murdered his girlfriend the day before at another location. In Lenoir County, Phillips fled into the nearby woods, where SRT members cornered him. Phillips then fired an unprovoked shot that struck and killed Detective Pearson. In the subsequent gun battle, Phillips was shot and killed.
Detective Pearson, 29, had also served as a volunteer firefighter and was the only Lenoir County sheriff’s deputy to be killed in the line of duty by gunfire at the time. He was posthumously awarded the Law Enforcement Purple Heart and Medal of Valor for his sacrifice.
In an effort to honor Detective Pearson’s legacy, his widow, Katherine, and his partner, Detective Ryan Dawson, collaborated to establish the Allen Pearson Emergency Services Foundation. This foundation works to raise funds for new equipment, aimed at assisting emergency services in protecting their communities. Katherine Pearson remarked, 'We know we need to keep his name alive. We know we need to keep his memory alive and everything that he worked so hard for.'
5. Alison Cain & Michael Rosenthal
Alison Cain and Michael Rosenthal, both teachers at Mathematics, Science Research, and Technology High School in Queens, New York, founded individual annual scholarships as a way to pay tribute to their personal heroes.
Alison’s scholarship, known as the Humanitarian Award, is granted to the high school student who has shown exceptional kindness and has been a model citizen within the school community. Alison, who has personally experienced the kindness of others, understands the significance of this. In 2004, after just five years of teaching, she received a life-saving double lung transplant. Afterward, she received a letter from the donor's family, describing their loved one as someone 'who always went above and beyond to give of herself.' When their young family member faced her impending death, she made the courageous decision to donate her organs to a complete stranger, giving the gift of life.
Michael Rosenthal, the other teacher, established the Daniel P. Rosenthal Memorial Award in honor of his older brother. Daniel tragically died at the age of 20 when Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. He had been on his way home to the US for Christmas break with his family and was studying to become a teacher at Oxford University. The Daniel P. Rosenthal Memorial Award is given annually to a deserving student who aspires to become a teacher or plans to study abroad.
4. Mark and Suzanne Crotty
In 2009, 19-year-old Zach Crotty tragically passed away from an accidental drug overdose in his idyllic hometown of Colden, New York. After his death, his parents, Mark and Suzanne, found his journals, which revealed his struggles with addiction to both illegal drugs and prescription painkillers, as well as his deep regret for not living the life he had envisioned. Despite numerous stints in rehab and even treatment from a psychiatrist who prescribed more medication to the already drug-dependent young man, Zach often wrote with the hope that his journals might save others, something he couldn’t do for himself.
In an effort to help others facing addiction, the Crottys made the painful decision to share Zach’s story. While emotionally challenging, they published his writings both on a blog and as a book. Suzanne Crotty explained, 'It won’t bring Zach back, but I’ll keep telling Zach’s story, so other people can share it. Even if we help just one person, we’ve made a difference.'
The Crottys didn’t stop there. In collaboration with local lawmakers, they played a pivotal role in the passage of the I-STOP Act in New York. As of March 2015, all New York healthcare providers (excluding veterinarians) are required to issue prescriptions in electronic format. In addition, they must consult an online registry of patient prescription histories before prescribing certain controlled substances. The Crottys hope this law will help curb doctor shopping among addicts, who often falsify their prescription information to acquire more drugs.
3. Marguerite Barankitse
Marguerite 'Maggie' Barankitse’s extraordinary journey began in October 1993, amidst the escalating ethnic conflict in Burundi between the Hutus and the Tutsis. A Tutsi herself, Maggie sought refuge at the house of the Archbishop of Ruyigi, where she tried to protect her seven children and 72 Hutu friends along with their children. However, the building was invaded by Tutsi rebels.
Tied to a chair and stripped, Maggie was spared from death because of her Tutsi ethnicity, but she was forced to witness the brutal murder of the 72 Hutus in front of her. In a horrific final act, the rebels threw her best friend’s head into her lap as a symbol of their cruelty.
Maggie paid a ransom to save 25 of her friends' children, and her own seven children survived as well. With limited resources and many children to care for, Maggie set out to find a solution. In no time, she was caring for 200 children, seeking food and land for their survival.
Eventually, Maggie established Maison Shalom ('House of Peace') in Ruyigi, a safe haven for both Hutu and Tutsi orphans. What started as a single home blossomed into a sprawling compound with over 3,000 homes, schools, farms, a hospital, and even a bank. Over the last 20 years, Maison Shalom has provided refuge for over 20,000 children, offering them education to improve their futures while also focusing on reintegrating them into the broader community.
“I know I can die in peace now,” says Maggie, “because my children will continue to pass on the message of peace and love wherever they are.”
2. Matt Gage
On a sweltering afternoon in his small town in Iowa, Matt Gage jumped into a pool. When he emerged, he discovered that the entire left side of his body had lost its function.
Fortunately, Matt’s cousin was there to pull him from the water. After being rushed to the hospital, the doctor initially diagnosed him with heatstroke. However, after being transferred to the Mayo Clinic, Matt was swiftly taken into emergency surgery with a much more serious diagnosis—one typically seen in the elderly. Not only did Matt suffer from heatstroke, but he had also experienced a stroke.
The outlook was bleak. The neurosurgeon did not expect Matt to regain consciousness. If he did, it was likely he would be in a vegetative state.
Despite the grim prognosis, Matt woke up. The neurosurgeon informed him that he would never regain the ability to move his left side. With his dream of becoming the next Michael Jordan shattered, he ignored his father's attempts to encourage him to move his leg. 'I can't,' Matt would reply.
Finally, his father confronted him. 'Matt, what has 'can't' ever done for you?' his father asked. 'If you keep saying you can’t, you won’t. You need to start believing in yourself and in the possibility of improvement, or you’ll end up in a wheelchair.'
Matt began to show improvement. First, he was able to move his left leg. Then, he moved his left arm. He eventually started walking with a brace before leaving the hospital.
Even though his left side had limited movement, Matt managed to play basketball, complete a 5K race, and even take up skiing. He later became a professor and athletic trainer at several universities. Today, he inspires other young stroke survivors and their families, proving that they too can get married, have children, and pursue successful careers.
Matt believes his stroke was part of a higher purpose to help others. If he could go back to the moment that changed his life, he says, 'Now, today, I would tell you that I wouldn’t want it any different.'
1. Emilie Gossiaux
Emilie Gossiaux, 25, is often referred to as the Helen Keller of the art world. Growing up in Terrytown, Louisiana, she had limited hearing and needed a hearing aid in both ears. This challenge only fueled her determination to become an artist. In 2007, she was accepted into Manhattan's Cooper Union School of Art, but the biggest challenge of her life was yet to come.
On October 8, 2010, Emilie was struck by an 18-wheel truck in Brooklyn while biking to an art studio for her internship. At 21, she sustained a traumatic brain injury, a stroke, and fractures to her head, pelvis, and leg. Tragically, she also lost her vision.
On her second day in the hospital, a nurse informed Emilie’s parents that she wouldn't survive and suggested they consider organ donation. However, that night Emilie began to move her arm. Her father, Eric Gossiaux, was incredulous. 'You want us to donate her organs when she just moved her arm?' he said. 'I don't think so.'
The doctors later told Emilie's parents that she wasn’t fit for rehabilitation and suggested finding a nursing home for her care. But Emilie’s dedicated boyfriend, Alan Lundgard, refused to accept this. He researched communication methods and discovered the print-on-palm technique. Just as Annie Sullivan had communicated with Helen Keller, Alan wrote the letters I l-o-v-e y-o-u on Emilie’s palm with his finger. She responded immediately. Soon after, her right hearing aid was reinserted, and her personality returned instantly. She worked tirelessly through a challenging rehab process.
In the spring of 2013, Emilie returned to Cooper Union to complete her undergraduate degree. Even more remarkably, she won an Award of Excellence from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts shortly thereafter. The award was for her sculpture Bird Sitting, which she created two years after the accident that caused her blindness. Her work was also featured in the In/finite Earth exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution in 2013.
