Pretty Strong - Petra
Who is Petra? Well, to understand her, you would need to prepare yourself for a story of grief, heartache, and loss. In 2016 - after many years of fighting health issues, Randy - Petra’s husband - passed in her arms, succumbing to heart-related complications. Petra was by his side every day and never faltered, being his unwavering supporter, partner, friend, and wife. There were many opportunities for the loss to break Petra’s spirit - but she never faltered, and she kept going. It was a harsh reality seeing my mom struggle with the grief of loss, but I was always inspired by how she overcame those moments and somehow walked away a little stronger - even though it may not have felt like it at the time. If you were to ask, Petra is known for being friendly, sweet, and kind. (And maybe a little talkative if you catch her in the right mood - which is always!) You would never know that her life’s story is dotted with some of the darkest realities that life can throw at a person.
Petra embodies “Pretty Strong” by not being defined by these moments - rather -by growing from this crucible and still rising up to every other challenge life did and can still throw her way. Petra is a woman of giving more than one chance, forgiving, listening, and never being afraid to say hello to a stranger. She is hard-working, dedicated, and fearless. She is not afraid to say “I love you” any moment she can (typically accompanied by a hug and kiss). She has overcome so much and still is a hopeless romantic and dreamer. I am so proud to say my mom is “Pretty Strong”.