Extraordinary Friendships

Tragedy after tragedy, how did Vivian hold on to her faith? "I have to be honest. There were times when I was just angry and I asked, 'Why?'" Vivian says. "But I would be reminded that sometimes when we think we're walking alone, that those single set of footprints is probably God carrying us through that."

Vivian says she also had a great example of strength to follow in her father, who lost both legs to a circulatory disease when she was a teenager. Although she says she heard him crying out in pain at night, she says he never complained in the morning. "With me, when I lost my husband, while I was hurt and devastated, the truth of the matter is, you know what? I did have a job. And I could take care of my family. So how dare I complain about that?" Vivian says. "So I try to relate this to my players sometimes and I say to all of us in life, we'll have trials and tribulations. Hurts. Things that will happen. It is the consequences of things, but how do we react that makes the difference. How do we react and handle?"