[addendum]

As a footnote: I consider myself immensely fortunate to have a hero who has never failed me, and if indeed she has fallen before, has risen to even greater heights of eminence. She more than anyone else is the kind of person I strive to be everyday of my life. The be-all and end-all (in some ways, quite literally) of so many around her, she gives and never asks for anything in return. A pillar of faith and strength, she is resolute and unstinting in her dedication. Possessing a heart of gold so loving and tender, and yet truly a force to be reckoned with. But this is a story for another day, which I will tell.
(I promise!)