Usually they are unhugged and unthanked. They are the unsung heroes. Their only motivation is love, and they are willing to alter their lives and put their interests and dreams aside.

They are caregivers, not those paid to do so but those who feel the need and go forward. They can be found on every street in any town, in any family. They go about caring for a loved one quietly, and if someone praises them for their caring, often they are surprised.

I have known many unsung heroes, and I am in awe of the power,  strength and even Godliness in their spirit.

It is bottomless, tireless and endless.

It seems to me we are born with this spirit, and when it is needed at any time of life, this spirit of caring quietly steps in and begins.

There was a 44-year-old woman whose father lived in a nursing home because of a stroke. He couldn’t speak or feed himself.

Her mother had dementia and was angry all the time. The daughter took full care of her in her home. Yet, every night, she visited her dad, helped him eat and walked with him.

I talked with the daughter about her life. She said simply, “I don’t have a life. My life is caring for my parents.”

There was no anger or resentment in her statement. She smiled warmly. Unsung hero.

I know a man who has in his home his wife and his mother both with Alzheimer’s. He works part-time and pays a professional to be with them during his absence. But as of 1:30 p.m., he is home and in full charge of the two women, whom he adores. Unsung hero.

Years ago, I was told at Mayo Clinic of an 8-year-old boy whose little sister had a life-threatening illness. The only chance she had was to find a blood donor with the same rare blood type. Finally, they tested the little boy’s blood type. It matched perfectly.

The doctor said to the boy, “I know that it is a lot to ask of you. Your sister will die unless you’d be willing to give her your blood.”

The boy thought a few moments and answered, “Yes, sir. I will give her my blood to save her life.”

The next day, the two lay side by side in the OR while his blood flowed into his sister. He began to feel weak. He called the doctor over and quietly asked, “Will I die fast?”

The room was silent. You see, the boy thought if he gave her his blood he would die. Unsung hero.

Then there was a woman who ran a successful business. She loved the stimulation of working with a lot of people. But then she got pregnant late in life.

After a difficult nine months, the baby was born — a little girl who had Down Syndrome. The husband wanted to put his daughter in a boarding school for special needs children. His wife was horrified and refused.

Instead, she quit her business and became the 24-hour-a-day caregiver. She even home schooled her later for as long as possible.

Though she missed the world of business, the love for her child was far stronger. Mother and daughter created a genuinely enjoyable life together. Unsung hero.

I knew an elderly couple who were my neighbors on Key Biscayne. I remember when their beloved dog suffered a stroke that pretty much paralyzed him from the rib cage down. The vet said he was in no pain, was eating well and enjoyed life.

Therefore, the couple made a cart with wheels and for 18 hard months they took their dog out to do his business and experience the sea air four times a day. There was no thought of putting their dog down until he was ready and never because they were tired of caring for their friend. Unsung heroes.

My dear mother was another example. At 89 years old, she took full care of daddy until we had to intervene. He was moved to a health center just across the way from their apartment when his Alzheimer’s could no longer be managed.

But from that day on, she was with him from morning to his bedtime. And she did this when he did not know who she was. She did this not because he was not well cared for, but because she wanted to be with him because she loved him. Unsung hero.

It is my honest opinion most people, because of committed love, will put aside self and even future plans for the honor of tending and caring for a loved one. Every last one of them is a hero to me.

I will bet there is not a single person reading this who doesn’t know one of these heroes. And what is more, many readers are themselves the hero. To all of you, I say thank you, thank you, thank you and God bless you all.

The view from the mountains is wondrous.

Jean Brody is a passionate animal lover and mother. She previously lived in Winchester, but now resides in Littleton, Colorado. Her column has appeared in the Sun for more than 25 years.