I'm a cynic to some degree. I think suffering doesn't ennoble people for the most part - it just makes them bitter and angry. I realize this wasn't your point

I'm a cynic to some degree. I think suffering doesn't ennoble people for the most part - it just makes them bitter and angry. I realize this wasn't your point - and who knows maybe I'm misreading you - but this comment makes me reconsider my view on that. I have a child and having to go through something like what you describe makes me feel sick. Doing that and then having any degree of empathy - sympathy even - for the people involved is a credit to you.