Michael C. Karwoski

A hero can be anyone to anybody. To be a hero means to inspire someone, to change one’s life in a way an individual can’t, to be courageous, and to be attentive. My hero is my Uncle Mike. He changed my life in ways you could never imagine. My mom is remarried to my step-dad, Tim. Uncle Mike was Tim’s brother. Uncle Mike came to live with us, so my parents could have some time off.

Uncle Mike at our cabin, a place called home. (We took it.)

My family struggled a bit during that time period. However, Uncle Mike always seemed to have a solution to our conflicts. He was easy to talk to and was easy to get along with. Whenever my parents fought, it always made me really upset. I had a bit of a tough time with it. Uncle Mike always made sure that nobody was upset. Tim was always happy with my uncle. They were so much alike in many ways. He was a role model to my mom, my sisters, my step-dad, and me. I looked up to him, and it was hard to let go.

Uncle Mike was born on January 17, 1959 and passed away on March 3, 2008. He lived with us for nearly two years before he passed. He died of a heart attack in his sleep, lying in his bed. I remember coming home from school that day and finding an ambulance outside of my house and worrying so much. That day was a tragedy for my family. He was important to me because I loved him. He always made my mom laugh, as well as the rest of us. He will always be in so many memories, he changed my life. After he died, my mom would always say WWUMS (What would Uncle Mike Say?) because he always did the right things and said them too. He was very lovable. If someone hated him, there must have been something wrong with them. Uncle Mike made a difference in my life. Not only was he a role model, but he was someone to look up to and someone who is always proud of you. He always listened to me when someone else wouldn’t. He always paid full attention to me, even when my mom would say hold on and not pay attention. He would tell me “Vic, focus…” I would because I hate being disappointing to him. He would always get me to follow through, and to make sure my job was done. Uncle Mike was my hero and he will always be.