What's the greatest single act of will that you have ever seen?

[Answered on Quora.com by C. Casassa]

My cousin was dying of cancer and was suffering with extreme pain and becoming more and more emaciated for 3 years. He was told he only had a matter of days left before he would die. Then, his little sister got engaged. She was a 21 year old girl who adored her bearded, barrel chested, burly bear of a brother. He was a blond haired, blue eyed man who was the focal point of every room he walked in. You know how some people just have a energy that attracts everyone around? He had that vibe. She didn't really ask, it was more a wistful “I wish you could be there … .”

The soonest date her fiance could get free from the military was ten months. The family pulled every string it could, including petitioning senators and congressmen, but the date was set in stone.

This cadaverous man forced himself to eat and drink , even though he would throw up most of it. He forced his will upon cancer and was there for his sister's wedding. He waited until she came home from her 10 day honeymoon and passed away the next day. This is without a doubt, the greatest single act of will that I have ever seen!

We were close as brothers from the time he was adopted as a baby. I could never view this as anything but what it was… the ultimate statement of love from a big brother to his little sister.

Not a day goes by that I don't miss him.