When she was just a young child, my little sister had a peanut go down the wrong tube and lodge in her lung. Although I was also very young, I remember there was a lot of concern about whether she would make it through the ordeal. She was only four years old, developed pneumonia and spent a month in hospital.

Growing up as the only girl among four siblings, Lisa was often subjected to the immaturity of her three brothers. She put up with us, and fortunately and most importantly, she forgave us.

Growing up with an abusive stepmother, my sister often bore the brunt of the violence. Unlike some people who fall back on the crutches of bad childhood experiences, Lisa never let anything drag her down.

She epitomizes the term survivor.

After a failed first marriage, Lisa went on to raise two children. She worked hard in various professions to provide for her family and made tremendous sacrifices for her children.

In more recent years, my sister has continued to climb mountains. She re-married and is very happy. She made a career change into real estate, and found a perfect fit for her infectious personality. She’s the perfect proud hockey mom, driving her son Jacob across Ontario for various games and tournaments, waking up for early morning practices. Anything for her children.

This week life threw another huge challenge at my sister. She was admitted to hospital on Monday with a very rare disorder called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). This potentially fatal condition is brought on by an allergic reaction to anti-biotics. In this case, it was sulfa anti-biotics prescribed last week after a minor surgery.

SJS is a nasty condition affecting the skin in which cell death causes the epidermis to separate from the dermis. The syndrome is thought to be a hypersensitivity complex affecting the skin and the mucous membranes.

This is an extremely rare condition, affecting roughly one in one million annually.

Aside from a fatal outcome, there are other serious implications including the potential for blindness or organ damage.

It can be brought on by a variety of drugs, including ibuprofen.

I first found out Tuesday morning, and called her in the critical care unit at Barrie’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

My sister and I had been planning a 40th birthday party for my wife Sue this coming weekend. She insisted she would be home and ready to go.

I wasn’t surprised by her intentions. Lisa has always put the happiness of other people before herself. Plus, she’s the type of person who doesn’t want anyone to make a fuss about her, even in the most serious of circumstances.

Later in the day I went to visit her at the hospital. My beautiful sister was covered from head-to-toe with blisters and rashes. Through hours of research, I learned that as SJS progresses, the blisters begin to burst and it’s not a pretty sight.

The blisters also form around and on the eyes, and in the throat and mouth. It’s just an all around nasty condition.

Despite her condition, Lisa put on her usual brave face. A specialist came down from Toronto to look at her eyes. It was more good news than bad, but it’s still in a critical phase.

While we were there, a nurse came in to check on my sister and said, “you are one tough cookie. If I were in your position right now, I’d be crying non-stop.”

Lisa replied, “Well, I’ve had my moments.” Yes, my sister has had many difficult moments in her life, but she’s not the type of person to wear her experiences like sympathy badges.

As I said earlier, she’s one tough cookie. I am a wimp compared to her. As life throws these challenges, she meets them head on, battles for a few rounds before delivering the knock out punch.

That’s why she’s my hero.