Perseverance, Part II
by Tom Morgan - Kent, Washington

It took Barbara Morgan 22 years and 8 minutes to get into space. Although it was 22 years from the time she was chosen as the back-up to Christa McAuliffe in the Teacher in Space Program to August 7, 2007, it only took 8 minutes to lift off from the launch pad and into orbit. Barb is my brother’s wife, and we have been anxiously awaiting her trip into space.

My family and I were there to witness the launch. My daughter and I used our two tickets and viewed from the “VIP” stands while my wife, son, and extended family viewed from the beach seven miles away. The launch was simultaneously spectacular and scary, and an event that everyone should see if given the chance. It was fun to see Barb on television and in the papers and it was nerve-wracking to learn about the damaged tile on her shuttle. We were all relieved when she landed safely back on earth.

We spent several days visiting Cape Canaveral, central Florida and Disney World. We met several astronauts, including Suni Williams, who had just returned from six months aboard the International Space Station. The evening of the launch we had an impromptu party and family reunion at our hotel, and found out that 23 people can fit in a normal-sized hotel room!

It would have been much better for all of us if it had not been the middle of August with 100 degree temperatures and 90% humidity. The only good thing about the weather is that it did not rain.

Barb’s perseverance has paid her big dividends. The opportunity to go into space is an honor that only a few will have, and the experience for her was amazing. Barb is an inspiration and a role model for all of us. Through triumphs and disappointments she followed her dream to reality. The quote she now uses is, “The sky is not the limit.”

Perseverance for fathers of children with disabilities also has great rewards. At times it seems that we are not making progress, and we even lose ground from time to time. However, when the rewards come, the joy, pride, and feeling of accomplishment can be awesome.

Some people consider Barb to be a hero, but she doesn’t see herself that way. She sees herself as a person doing her job that has had an opportunity to do something extraordinary. I see a hero as an ordinary person that does extraordinary things in extraordinary circumstances.

When we get those big breakthroughs through hard work and perseverance, we don’t consider our actions heroic; it is something we do, it is our job. But it is clearly evident that fathers of children with special needs are doing extraordinary things in extraordinary circumstances on a daily basis.

A toast to you, gentlemen, true heroes!