“This was my wife back in January — standing tall in her uniform, about to walk in and take her Chief Petty Officer exam.
What you don’t see in this photo…
is that she was in between chemo rounds.
That she was battling fatigue, chemo sickness, and the fog of chemo brain.
That she was pushing through every ounce of exhaustion just to chase her dream.
When she got home, I asked how it went.
She smiled and said,
“I just prayed my way through it. Whatever happens is meant to be.”
And today… the Navy released the results:
She made Chief.
Y’all — being selected for Chief is a HUGE milestone in her career.
But knowing what she’s fought through to get here?
It makes this victory feel like a miracle.
This past year has thrown everything at her…
But she never stopped.
Never gave in.
Never gave up.
She fought cancer and climbed the ranks at the same time.
She is the definition of strength, resilience, and grit.
Congratulations, Chief Select.
I’ve never been prouder to be your husband.
And I love you more than words can say.” 💛
*** Diane Clarkson-Smith ***