Then, in 1992, Morisi, who was just 34, was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. For eight years, Morisi, Ortiz, and their two young daughters battled through ups and downs, as he underwent various treatments. He made it to August 2000, when his body finally gave out. Their daughters were 8 and 13. Ortiz, now faced with raising a family alone, wasnt sure she could continue in her legal career, despite all the work shed done to get there. The thought of being a lawyer I had no energy, she says. It was hard for me to pick up the pieces. But she did, and those around her marveled at her strength. Thats all those girls had was her, Reilly says. If she had folded, they wouldnt be where they are today. Ortiz, who would eventually remarry, says the experience taught her that even lifes lowest point doesnt have to dim your expectations. You cannot, she says, let that moment define you.
