Inspiring Sisters…Our winning story!
People from throughout the United States shared their heartfelt stories about their sisters’ influence on their lives.
Here’s our winning story that shows one of the many ways a sister can inspire her own sister and others…
Nancy Hernandez, of Lorain, Ohio, shares her sister’s story of coping with a chronic illness.
This is the story of my little sister Amarilis Burgos.
Growing up, I always looked up to her even if she was the baby of the family, getting in trouble like every other kid.
Then we had kids. Our first children are 3 months apart – how close we are. Little did I know that my sis had caught a kidney infection with her third child.
She almost died. By the time doctors got to her, her kidneys were working at 5 percent – the “walking dead,” doctors say.
She lives her life as happy as she can, going to dialysis 3 days a week for 1/2 a day, taking pills every day, swelling, having high blood pressure and more. Yet she still manages to take kids to school, clean house, make dinner, go on trips with kids, take them to movies, shopping, and more with such a huge smile on her face that no one would guess she suffers so much pain every day.
This is why my sister is my greatest inspiration. No matter what life brings, I always look at my sister and say to myself: If she can fight to stay alive, raise her kids, and still look good while doing it, I can too.
My hero, inspiration, sister. Amarilis Burgos.
