Danielle M.

Danielle

When you think of the word “hero,” I’m sure you will probably have someone in mind who is a hero to you. Most of the time, people will think of heroes that are well-known or famous, or even superheroes. They aren’t the only type of heroes, though. They could be anyone with special qualities that are important and make them a hero to you. The qualities of my hero are bravery, faith, courage, hope, and determination. My hero is not famous or even well-known, she is my cousin.

My cousin, Danielle, is a hero to me. She lives in New Jersey and has an older sister and younger brother. Danielle has been through a lot in her childhood. She is now 16, and when she was 12 years old she had a kidney transplant. I remember visiting her in the hospital and wondering how she could be so brave. Every time I saw her she had a smile on her face, and I knew it was because she had faith that everything was going to be okay.

Not only did she get through her transplant, but she also developed cancer soon after. Fortunately, she overcame cancer too, and no longer has it. She was very determined to fight the cancer in her, and that is what helped her through all those rough times spent in the hospital. Someone like her makes me appreciate what I have in life and how lucky I am. Danielle definitely has been a positive influence for my entire family. We all feel so lucky that she is okay and I’m sure that they consider her as a hero, too.

From the book A Hero’s Trail by T.A. Barron, Danielle would be considered a hero within. T.A. Barron describes a hero within as someone who has faced challenges such as polio, or any other disease and triumphed. Danielle fits under this hero category because she has faced a kidney disease and cancer and triumphed over them, making her a stronger person. Danielle would be similar to Wilma Rudolph in A Hero’s Trail because even though Wilma had polio and was told she couldn’t walk again, she was determined to run again just like Danielle was determined to get better. As it turned out, Wilma Rudolph ran again and Danielle no longer has kidney disease or cancer.

Danielle definitely has the qualities of a hero, even though she is not famous. She makes me realize how lucky I am in life after all she’s been through, and how lucky I am to have her as my cousin. Now when you think of a hero, you might have someone else in mind: maybe not a superhero, but maybe someone in your everyday life. Your hero could be in your family, it could be your friend, or maybe someone who is well-known. As long as they fit the qualities that you believe are heroic, then they can be your hero.