Tuesday Tribute. Dad.

It has taken me all day to get this post ready, but I had to participate with Jay and Deb in their weekly Tuesday Tribute (now hosted by Angie at Seven Clown Circus). Before I even read Jay's post, I was thinking about writing a tribute for my Dad. And then when I read his blog, I knew I had to do it. This is what Jay said:

I awoke recently at 2am for no good reason as I do more and more these days, and discovered this post from MamaKat about yet another family who lost a child to Cancer.

Some of you may know that this subject is near and dear to my heart as I lost my cousin last year to Cancer, and my mom goes in this week for a single mastectomy to ensure a long life with many grandchildren.

Therefore, I choose this Tuesday's Tribute to make 5 statements.

1. There is not one of us that this disease hasn't touched.

2. I don't care who you are, you don't deserve cancer.

3. Kids REALLY don't deserve having to go through all the baggage that comes with this disease...surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, pain, nausea, the loss of their hair and nails...and worse.

4. The only thing that will lead to a cure is continued research.

and finally...my announcement:

5. On March 21, I (Jay) will be shaving my head again in support of children's cancer research though the amazing national organization called St. Baldrick's.

Now, back to Lolli......Jay, I hope you don't mind me sharing that. I think it's a worth-while post to repeat. Because you're right. We've all been effected by cancer. Many of you know that my father died of cancer at the young age of 24. I was 2 1/2 when he passed away. All I have left of him are a few photos, a handful of letters, and stories.

Here we are after the cancer had already taken over. He was weak physically, but he still had a smile for his little girl. Me.

Cancer makes me sad. It makes me scared. It has already crept into my own life, and I wait for it to creep back. I'm not ready for it to take over.

Cancer took my father, but it brought me someone else.

Cancer gave me my Dad.

My mom remarried not long after my father died. She found another wonderful man who had lost his first wife to cancer. He took me in and made me his own daughter. He didn't have to, but he did. He has been a wonderful dad and an even better Grandpa.

I was lucky enough to spend this last weekend with him.

I love you, Dad. I am sad that cancer took my first father, but I am grateful that God sent me you.


A Jay and Deb Production.