35. "I realized then I would literally climb off my death bed if I had to, just to keep my little boy smiling..."

"I had major surgery in the beginning of January and ended up being in the hospital for 16 days. My recovery has been tough and it's hard for my 3.5-year-old to understand my limitations while I recover, so it breaks my heart when I have to say no to him.

The whole week before Valentine's Day he'd been asking me to come to his dance at school. I wasn't sure I would be able to get myself there, and I didn't want to say no again, so I kept telling him maybe.

The day of the dance, I told him I didn't know if I'd make it. I struggled to get myself together and waffled back and forth on whether or not I'd go. Well, I finally made it to the school and went into the gym to wait for his class. The moment he walked in and spotted me his face lit up and he ran into my arms at full speed. He pulled back, took my face between his two tiny hands, and said, "I knew you'd be here," then planted a big kiss on my lips.

That smile, that hug, that kiss, that confidence in me — I realized then I would literally climb off my death bed if I had to, just to keep my little boy smiling, happy, and feeling loved, and that I would forever put his safety and happiness above all else, no matter how painful or challenging or difficult it may be — and I couldn't be happier."

—Submitted by courtneywilksd