By: J

Roger Ebert, the legendary film critic, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2002. He is now unable to talk, eat or drink, and takes his meals four times a day through a gravity-drip bag connected to his stomach. He is permanently disfigured because of the removal of his lower jaw and mouth. His response to this obvious hardship is inspiring.

“No more surgeries for me,” he said. “I’m not going to talk or eat or drink again. So the surgery would only be to patch my face back together. I don’t want to go through that. This is the way I look and my life is happy and productive, so why have any more surgery?… Nobody looks perfect. We have to find peace with the way we look and get on with life.”

Many couples are splitting up over situations hardly comparable to his struggle, but he and his wife (Chaz) are still together. The love they displayed, with an intimate grasp of the hand, or a sincere glance at each other while on the Oprah show was beautiful. Marriage is not a prison sentence, it can also be an institution that provides companionship thru the toughest of times.