Resiliency.

Whether it's on the softball diamond, in the classroom, or most especially her personal life, Amber Thomas possesses an ability to bounce back that is second to none.In recent years, the sophomore hurler on the Northern Lehigh varsity softball team has had to deal with one setback after the other, none of which have been able to derail her achievements.Her rash of obstacles began last year when Thomas suffered a stroke on Super Bowl Sunday. After her stint at Childrens Hospital in Philadelphia, she continued to get migraine headaches, which lasted for about three months straight after her stroke recovery."After I had come back from my stroke, I had to wait so long before I could get back on the field; it drove me crazy," Thomas said. "Finally, I was allowed back, and before I knew it, the high school season (her freshman year) was starting."To her credit, Thomas managed to forge through the rest of that season unscathed.As luck would have it, this past fall, Thomas sustained a broken leg from a rare tumor in her tibia, which resulted in surgery and ultimately kept her out of commission."I went for surgery, recovered, and came back to softball as soon as I could," she said. "Two or three weeks later, and I would not have been cleared for tryouts."Currently, Thomas faces her biggest - and most important - challenge to date as she helps tend to her father, who in 2010, was diagnosed with advanced stage colon cancer, and is on chemotherapy.She said the most difficult part of the situation is that her dad isn't able to work with her like he used to."He would always tell me what I was doing wrong, and then he went and made some contraption to help me," she said. "He has still been able to work with me most of the time."Through it all, Thomas has somehow managed to maintain her status as an A student, where she ranks in the Top 5 in her class, no less."My teachers really helped me get through, and I even studied with some of my friends to get caught up," she said. "A lot of thanks goes to my family for helping me through this and always pushing me to do well in school; they created my self-motivation."Thomas added "my support system has been great through all of this.""My family, my friends, and my teams all supported me through both the stroke and the broken leg," she said. "My family pushes me to do my best, my friends are always there for me, and my teammates are just the best; they make softball feel like a second home to me."As she looks ahead to this season, Thomas said her goals are for her team to be competitive in every game, and to grow as a team and work together to achieve the ultimate goal."I would really enjoy having a winning season this year," she said. "On a personal level, I hope to help the team as much as I can on the mound, and in the batter's box."Last season, Thomas smacked two home runs, which tied for the team lead with Sarah Frantz, and drove in 15 runs, good enough for second on the team, and just one behind teammate Cassie Toth. On the mound, she compiled a modest 1-1 record.Regardless of whatever life throws her way, Thomas said the sport affords her plenty of enjoyment."I would have to say that I enjoy the team-related aspects of the game the most; having the girls there to back you up and boost your spirits is a great feeling," she said. As a single player I enjoy the mental game; I really do like the fact that you always have to be on your toes and constantly thinking about what you have to do next."