Motherhood comes in all shapes and sizes. Being a military wife and mom however, comes with its own set of challenges.

In her biography, Dorothy Swanson, shares her unique circumstances filled with sacrifice, heartache, and a special kind of love.

In the quiet mist of personal turmoil, Dorothy finds the courage and strength to survive World War II; as a child evading bullets from charging Skukas, being sexually assaulted, and later on in life, bullied by her peers. Dorothy marries and her ability to balance life with the needs of her family against her own needs and desires drives her to excellence in being the best military-wife, mother, and caretaker.

During the racial conflicts of the Civil Rights movement, Dorothy bears witness to the hostile working environment at the infamous Crownsville Hospital Center. Her life is met with one catastrophe after another until she is employed at the Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY. Not only does she form a special camaraderie with her peers, a Jewish women’s organization assists in paying her tuition for her to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and become a Certified Perioperative Nurse.

Wanting a new start in life after the death of her husband, Dorothy moves to Florida with her youngest daughter and grandson. Little did she know that she would care for one of the most beloved coma patients of the world, Terri Schiavo.

This is Dorothy’s story.