YOU Voted: The Most Inspiring 'Breakthrough' Story Of The Week

We asked you to participate in the conversation about finding power in crisis, by sharing YOUR 'Breakthrough' experience and asked YOU to VOTE on which stories you found the most inspiring! Our winner for the week is: Robin Von Ohlsen!

Here is Robin's story:

"My husband Carl suffered a massive stroke in June 2005, four months after we got married. Here was a young man, ambitious, athletic, a loving father (and husband), active in his church and with a new bride, Robin, looking forward to the best years of our lives.

Then crisis ... a massive stroke left Carl in a wheelchair unable to move his right side, read or write. Many thought I would not take on the enormous responsibility of caring for my husband. But "crisis" made me the woman I am today!

I prayed to God to give me strength. My oldest son was in Iraq at the time, and my thoughts often led to him during times of sitting by the ICU.

How could my life take just a devastating turn in just a few short moments. I picked up my bootstraps, promised Carl (and his friends and family) that we would get through this. I learned that "patience" is a virtue and "laughter" is the best medicine. Carl came home and our relationship bloomed faster and stronger than any newly married couple I've ever known. My youngest son who lives with us, went through some very hard times while I was dedicating my time to Carl -- yet, this crisis taught him to care and "lift up" others -- now he is truly a great man. Pat is home from Iraq, bruised and battered, but thankful to have served his country and truly appreciates the little things in life.

We have endured many hospital stays, Carl losing his job due to complete disability, me, losing my job due to the economy, our loss of many friends (Disability shows you who truly is on your side) and yet, we've battled through together. Our doctors and family often admit that our relationship is one that each look up to -- for true happiness knows no crisis, only another mountain to climb. Through patience, persistence, love and family we still climb each and every mountain put in front of us...eager to see what's behind it.

Thank you Tony and Arianna for recognizing these needs in others.

Comments

[Robin Von Ohlsen]

05:13 PM on 07/30/2010

Thank you to everyone that voted for us! Because of all of this great support (yea, otaypanky, you may think it's all hype), but Carl is trying even harder to take a few more steps everyday!

It only takes one person to change the lives of many. Good Job to all those who try!

[SirenForSanity]

11:39 AM on 07/31/2010

Thank you for sharing your family's story, Robin. We need to hear more first person accounts because you've shown that people have the capacity to endure life's most dire challenges. But also to learn that sometimes plans do not work and families are handed terrible circumstances. All people need to register empathy to the extent that we create better systems of support. I thank your son for his service to our country. I hope Carl takes one extra step today. I appreciate your youngest son's strength of character and I hope you have more and more better days.

[Robin Von Ohlsen]

04:29 PM on 07/31/2010

Thank you! What an uplifting message...you must be a truly kind person.

[OtayPanky]

03:10 PM on 07/30/2010

YOU voted? WHO voted?

HOW MANY voted?

Tony doesn't say - but I'm guessing it was a real small number.

I'm all for heartwarming stories - but not such a big fan of hype.

[Allen Bouchard]

02:56 PM on 07/30/2010

Wait, why are people still listening to Tony Robbins?

Do we really need more of his pseudo-science?

[OtayPanky]

03:11 PM on 07/30/2010

Are you trying to tell me that you don't believe in the miracle of NLP?

[Eli Davidson]

01:41 PM on 07/30/2010

In 18 months I lost my marriage, business and health and had 88K of credit card debt.

Losing everything was the catalyst for me to dramatically change my life. Using spiritual psychology got my mental game straight, and allowed me to take constructive actions. It worked.
I quadrupled my income. I reverse engineered what I had done and created a system, that I put into a book, Funky to Fabulous. Even though I had never written as much as an article won Motivational Book of the Year. Then I was on the Today Show. Now, I blog here at Huffington Post.

Yes, you can make a change. Right now is the best moment to get started!

[Gregory Ashby]

09:55 AM on 07/31/2010

And remember your wonderful also!!

[busman]

08:30 PM on 08/09/2010

Thanks for that inspiring story. I may check out your book.