THE INFORMANT'S WIFE

Gentle Readers,

After I saw the movie The Informant, starring Matt Damon as Mark Whitacre, a whistle blower who went undercover for the FBI to reveal price fixing schemes, I was curious about the real Mark Whitacre.

So I read Mark Whitacre: Against All Odds by Stevin Hoover.

Of course, Mark Whitacre's story is fascinating. His faith actually grew during the unjust years he spent in prison.

But the person who belongs on the page of Women: We Shall Overcome is Mark's wife, Ginger Whitacre.

Ginger kept the family together and never, ever lost her faith in God and her husband as he struggled with mental illness and was convicted of the crimes HE uncovered. How easy it might have been to say, I've had it with this. I'm outa here.

But not Ginger Whitacre. Every time Mark was moved to a different prison, Ginger moved the family to the area and they spent every minute of every visiting opportunity with Mark. Ginger went back to school and worked as a kindergarten teacher to help support the family. She continues to teach today, using her teaching skills to work with children who come from poverty stricken homes.

She is a woman who has overcome so much, and now she has her beloved husband back at her side -- except when he travels for his new job, which he does a lot.

But Ginger Whitacre is o.k. with Mark's work. In fact, I'd bet the family farm that she's more than o.k. with it because Mark is looking to help people beat cancer. She's willing to share her brilliant husband so he can do his part to save the world.

Ginger Whitacre: Your husband isn't the only one in the family who is intelligent, hard-working, and selfless. I don't want to hurt Mark's feelings, but I'll go so far as to say you top Mark by a bit. I know how hard it is to be the wife who tries to help her husband through every trial -- literally and figuratively -- and tribulation. Sometimes a woman feels helpless.

If you ever felt that way, I don't think you let Mark or your children see it or sense it. You, Ginger Whitacre, you are a strong and amazing woman. Congratulations.

Ginger, if you should happen to read this and would like to post any information about your faith, your marriage, your teaching, your whatever, I'm sure it would be helpful to a lot of women who also have much to overcome.

Love,

Lola