Acceptance is not Surrender: A little girl, an old man and one man's story of hope

This is a story about accepting loss rather than getting beaten by it.

It's about redefining oneself after a crippling disease by living the ups and downs of self-discovery. Far from giving up, acceptance is living a life of disciplined thought and action, searching for newfound strengths to replace those that have been lost. It's about the strength of the human spirit.

It's about perseverance, not only for the survivor but also for those closest to him. It's about relationships and what loss does to test their strength and elasticity. It's finding a way to move forward individually and collectively despite the obstacles. Whether it's changing roles within the family, completing the paperwork for the body's most basic function, confronting suicide, or walking "with no hands", each of these activities, and more, all came with their specific challenges and rewards.

The hard to find answers to the questions that started this journey are unique to the writer. They are presented not as a manifesto to follow, but as a starting point for you that you may find something here that can help you find your answers, unique to you.