The hardships of life come to everyone. Knowing how others have faced seemingly insurmountable challenges can give us perspective, hope, and resilience. These amazing stories will remind each of us of the hero lying just below our own skin, waiting for the chance to shine.Aware of the strength of his muscular 140-pound frame, Ammon walked confidently onto the mat and into the wrestling ring. The two challengers began to grapple, seeking out each other's vulnerabilities. During the second period, his opponent lifted Ammon's body, intending to throw him onto his back. It was a common tactic, completely within the rules of high school competition. Instead, Ammon's head hit the mat with the full force of his entire weight. The cheering audience fell instantly quiet as Ammon's body crumpled silently to the floor. Ammon Butcher - Man of PurposeIt was the house that had never flooded. For almost 80 years, the majestic old structure had stood on its five-foot pier and beam foundation at Pine Island Bayou in Lumberton, Texas... This time, however, the historic old home faced a much worse peril than raging winds and heavy rain. A huge storm named Harvey churned dangerously close in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening landfall in a matter of days. The Barnes - Flooded with Blessings"I was only 28 when the first diagnosis of cancer came after a post-natal visit. A pap smear test performed during my visit returned as abnormal. Further tests showed that I had developed uterine cancer."Jennifer Milinsky - Three Times RunningThe new medication worked well for months, but eventually Jessica's body chemistry reacted to this pharmaceutical concoction. A soaring heartbeat forced her to the emergency room, and initial tests indicated a diagnosis of lymphoma and pulmonary embolism. Although only 33, death suddenly became a possibility for Jessica. Jessica Wyeth - My Body, My Battleground"How I wish that others could have known the Elinor Van Meter that I knew growing up," remembers Linda Schroeder. "The one that was equal parts Martha Stewart, Mother Teresa, and the Energizer Bunny. She was also one of the happiest people I have ever known, a woman who always wore an endearing, radiant smile on her face."Linda Schroeder - Lessons from My MotherMarty Nell didn't wait for the draft to find him in 1966. At only 17 years of age, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. As soon as he turned 18, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Battalion, 9th Marine Division, serving at the height of the Vietnam conflict. During the Vietnam War, that unit earned the name of "The Walking Dead," suffering the highest killed in action rate in Marine Corps history.Marty Nell - Vietnam VeteranUsually strokes affect either the right side or the left side of the brain. In Boyce's case, both sides had been seriously damage. In the matter of a few hours, he had lost 60-70 percent of his vocabulary. He could not even tell the caregivers to close the door of his room. After ten days of what he considered involuntary imprisonment in the hospital, Boyce's muddled brain hatched an escape plan. Boyce Fullmer - The StrokeSitting. Crawling. Walking. Beautiful, blond-haired Mariah developed as normally as any child until she reached the age of 16 months. Then everything changed. No one, especially her parents, suspected the reason might lie deep within her DNA as a menacing genetic flaw.The Wolcotts - Heroes of the A-T Wars"I remember the two of us sitting in stunned silence," said Peggy "It was surreal to think that this athletic, physically fit, 51-year-old could possibly be facing a death sentence. We somehow made our way through the waiting room to our car. For what seemed like hours, we couldn't speak to each other. Then Roy suggested that we buy some ice cream, as if that would return everything to normal in our lives."Peggy Caldwell Rodriguez - Finding Love Again