What does the word "strong" really mean? How do you know that you have really been strong through a particular situation(s)? My conclusion would be, that when you can reach a point where you can look back on your past experiences and say "I made it through that" you truly can call yourself strong. My jouney with cancer has really been my test of the word strong. It isn't until I really sit and look back on what I have been through do I start to get teary eyed and sad for my former self. I was really, truly in a great deal of pain. Surgery, fevers, dizziness, fatigue, fainting, low to no energy, hopelesness, can't walk, can't see stragiht, don't wanna live, don't wanna move, just don't wanna participate in LIFE. During those times, the clock seems to stand still in time. It seems that the days get extremly longer, and there is absolutely no end in sight. But then, the day does end, and then another day comes, and suddenly, you seem to continue to put one foot in front of the other. Before you know it, you are sitting in front of your laptop writing about the time when you never felt you would be strong again. Everything ends, even pain. Live ON!