We are family

They say there is safety in numbers and it seems that’s a very true statement.  This sentiment rings especially clear in times of hardship.  When things are tough, it really helps to have someone else around to help pick up the slack, listen to you worry, and pick you up when you fall.  Who better to fill this role than family members?

Jenny and her mother making funeral shoes.

I have noticed people who have a strong support system tend to be happier and healthier than those who don’t.  They are able to come through difficulties more easily than those who are alone, regardless of how dire the circumstances seem.

Jenny Pong comes from a close knit family.  No matter how bad things get, they stick together.  She lives with her family in a modest home in the shadows of the limestone hills. Jenny has the support of her brothers, her niece and her father.  But her greatest ally was her mother, who recently passed away.

Jenny's Mother

When Jenny was in a coma and lost the use of her arms and legs, her mother stayed by her side in the hospital.  She patiently worked with Jenny to help her regain the use of her arms and she bravely fought off those who didn’t believe in her daughter’s chances at survival.

When Jenny’s former father-in-law bought her a coffin, it was her mother who told him to get rid of it and leave the family alone.  She was a strong advocate for family and a valuable resource for Jenny.

Now that her mother has passed away, Jenny is taking a leadership role in the home. She teaches her niece about the value of hard work and a positive attitude.  These are lessons Jenny learned from her childhood, from her mother.  They are lessons that will live on.

A smile that's contagious.

I’ve said it before that Jenny is an inspirational woman.  It makes sense that she would be, she’s continuing  the tradition.

By: Morgan Reed