And at that moment, I remember specifically saying to God, I know that millions of women have died from this disease, but if you're real, now is the time that I need you to prove it to me.

NPR: Battling Back from Breast Cancer

Only a handful of people know this about me, but five years ago, my father died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. This is a fatal disease that literally eats away at a person's muscles until they cannot walk, talk or even breathe.

NPR: Inner Strength from Desperate Times

The Geneva-based organization said Friday that 294 people have died of the disease and that a total 6, 072 cases had been reported between August and this Tuesday.

CNN: Cholera kills 300 in battered Zimbabwe

And Aids has cast a shadow over the life of this confident young woman - Crystal's parents, who were Ugandan, have both died from the disease.

BBC: Teenagers - anonymous