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THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO MY GRANDMOTHER, NINA RIFENBERY. THE STRONGEST MOST AMAZING WOMAN I HAVE EVER KNOWN. HER GROWING UP LIFE WAS VERY HARD, THAT’S PART OF WHAT MADE HER THE WAY SHE WAS. STRONG, PROUD AND YES AS WE ALL KNOW STUBBORN AT TIMES, BUT ALSO VERY KIND LOVING AND ALWAYS WILLING TO GIVE A HELPING HAND WHERE IT WAS NEEDED.
GROWING UP THE WAY SHE DID MADE HER THE STRONG WILLED PERSON SHE BECAME AND IT’S BECAUSE OF THIS FIGHTING SPIRIT THAT SHE OUT LIVED ALL THE ODDS THE DOCTORS GAVE HER. AS MY AUNT BRINN ONCE SAID, “MY MOM IS ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL.” BOY IS THAT THE TRUTH. SHE HAD THE MOST AMAZING OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND A WONDERFUL ATTITUDE THAT TOUCHED EVERYONE AROUND HER.
IN 2000 (SIX YEARS AGO) THEY GAVE HER 6 MONTHS. YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOW SHE WAS TERMALLY ILL, HECK IN THE SUMMER SHE WAS PAINTING A HOUSE IN ARIZONA, OF ALL PLACES.
ONE DAY NOT LONG AFTER THE DOCTORS HAD GIVEN HER ONLY A FEW WEEKS TO LIVE SHE TOLD ME “I’M NOT DYING I’M LIVING AND I AM GOING TO CONTINUE LIVING FOR AS LONG AS I CAN.” IN THE FACE OF DEATH SHE STILL SAW THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THINGS. THESE WORDS WILL STAY WITH ME ALWAYS AND WHEN I FEEL LIKE GIVING UP ON SOMETHING I WILL REMEMBER THESE WORDS AND HER FIGHTING SPIRIT, WHO IN THE CHALLENGE OF HER LIFE SHE NEVER GAVE UP.