My Favorite Hero

Who’s your favorite superhero? When I was a kid I regularly followed the Adventures of Spiderman, wasting way too much money on comics I carefully hid from my parents. I loved to follow Spidey as he swung through the city streets, battling evil in many forms. It was a wonderful way to escape the stresses of being an awkward teenager.

Nowadays, my heroes don’t have superpowers, but they still do extraordinary things, caring for the ill, the hurting, the lonely and discouraged. The heroes profiled this week are all amazing, but I have to admit I do have a favorite. Her name is Rishana Edison, my beautiful daughter.

Rishana works as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. She puts in long hours helping rehabilitate brain injury patients, stroke victims, and many others, helping them regain their independence and ability to do everyday tasks you and I take for granted. In taking care of COVID-19 patients Rishana has been using her skills to help position them to improve lung function, maintain mobility, and hasten recovery.

No matter how stressful the situation, Rishana brings a positive attitude and a simple faith to her work. When this crisis first started she was asked by her supervisor if she felt comfortable working with coronavirus patients. Rishana replied, “If Jesus could touch a leper, I think I’ll be okay working with a COVID patient.” That’s the kind of faith she has, trusting God will take care of her, no matter what.

Being a hero is not about having superpowers. It’s about showing up everyday and doing what needs to be done, trusting in the one who promised, “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). It’s about doing the hard work with a smile on your face and love in your heart, being the hands of Jesus to someone in need of a loving touch. That’s what Rishana and so many other therapists do everyday.

So, thank you Rishana for all you do and for being the best daughter I could ever ask for. You will always be my favorite hero!

And thank you to all the other therapists who make such a difference in so many lives everyday. You are the real heroes we so desperately need right now!