by Rissa Watkins

Created on: February 16, 2008

Senator John McCain is a hero. A hero is defined in part as someone who fights for a cause, someone who watches over others. While some may dispute whether his war record was heroic or not, none can dispute that he is a hero to our family. Senator John McCain became our hero when he granted a dying mother her final wish. This is the story about how Senator John McCain became my family's hero.

In 1991 my mother was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. The doctors gave her a few months to live. She was a strong woman and lived for more than a year past their time frame. While she was defending her body against the cancer, my brother was in the Marines defending our country in Japan.

The time came in 1992 when she had to have a surgery that the doctors didn't think she would survive. Her body was so weak and her spirit was low. My brother started the process to come home. The doctor delayed her surgery for as long as he could to give my brother time to return home and possibly say goodbye.

My brother was my mother's only son. He was her favorite as boys usually are in Thai culture. She was very proud when he went into the Marines and joined the military police. After he completed his training he was sent to Japan for 3 years. It was during his second year that she developed cancer. She was told she wouldn't live long enough to see him again.

As with any request in the military, there is a lot of red tape. Nothing happens quickly. The Red Cross didn't think they could get him home in time to see her, but said they should be able to get him home for the funeral.

My father went to Senator McCain's office hoping someone might help. He didn't expect to be able to get in but was hoping he could be enough of a nuisance to get someone to hear his plea. To his surprise they helped him right away. Senator McCain wasn't in however his aide happened to be talking to him on the phone.

After hearing my father's story one of the staff members thought this was something Senator McCain would like to know. The aide told him about our situation. Senator McCain had a message for our father. He said not to worry, he would get my brother home.

Senator McCain is a politician with a busy schedule. We figured the chances of him doing anything quickly were pretty slim. With the clock ticking away we told our mother he probably wouldn't make it. All she wanted was to see her son one more time. You could see the pain in her eyes as she bravely said it was ok.

Then we got the call that we never expected. He was coming home. His commanding officer said to him "Son, I don't know who you talked to that got this moving so fast, but you are going home today." Senator McCain, true to his word, made sure he got my brother home in time.

I will never forget the first moment my mother saw him. Her chemotherapy ravaged face lit up and we got to glimpse the beautiful woman the cancer had stolen from us. Her joy at seeing him is one of the few happy memories my family has of that time. Having her beloved son home gave her the strength to survive the surgery.

If not for the help of Senator John McCain, my brother would not have made it home in time. John McCain brought my mother a moment of precious joy during a year that held little. Most people think of a hero as someone who saves someone else's life. By returning my mother's only son, he gave her the will to live a little longer. He gave a soldier the chance to say goodbye to his mother.

This article isn't about political issues. It isn't about whether he is right or wrong to lead our country. This article is about one man, who helped grant a dying mother's wish.

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