from Bob McKenzie of TSN,

You ask yourself: How much should one woman have to endure?

In 1996, Heather Cunningham lost her husband, Alvin, when he died in a car accident in Trail, B.C., leaving her alone to fend for their three young sons aged four to seven — Mitchel, Craig and Ryan.

It wasn't easy, far from it, but with indomitable spirit, love of life and help of all kinds from so many along the way, Heather raised those three sons into young men, one of whom — middle child Craig — went on to beat an incredible set of odds to become a professional hockey player.

Then on Saturday night, some 20 years after losing her husband, Heather was there in the stands in Tucson, Ariz., to watch 26-year-old Roadrunner captain Craig start the game. He collapsed moments before puck drop.

And now Heather Cunningham, along with sons Ryan and Mitchel, is maintaining a minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour vigil over Craig, who remains in stable but critical condition and is literally battling for his life at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson.

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