A challenge in my past that required perseverance and determination happened somewhat recently and affected my spouse a little more that it did me. This challenge was childbirth. The planning, the stay at the hospital, the minutes of sleep, the complications, and the new baby made this time very difficult for both of us. If we thought that the pregnancy was rough, then we had no idea what was in store for us during the birthing process.
The planning was difficult because it involved the decision to start this process instead of putting it off. The stay at the hospital was taxing because the IVs caused numerous bathroom breaks and the side effects of the medication caused tremors. Not to mention that the sleeping arrangements were not very comfortable. Even less so with a pregnant belly I presume. While these discomforts lasted the entire stay, when the actual birthing process started things started to get really hairy.
Thankfully, my wife is tough. Combined with the medicine, the contractions were more uncomfortable than painful. Added to that was the modesty, or lack thereof. It made things embarrassing for her. The worst part of this entire process, though, is the actual birth. It was done surgically and, in short, my wife almost died on the operating table. Things worked out in the end, though. Major crisis averted. After that, things started getting better. The new baby made all the pains and discomforts disappear, but added stress and more sleepless nights; which, at that point, were overshadowed by the joy and happiness of a newborn.
In the end, everything worked out and the both of us came out of the hospital invigorated and ready to start our new life with this new addition. This four day period was the most painful, tiring, difficult, and joyous time of both of our lives and required perseverance and determination to get through.