Ulog 48: This Is My Dad

This Is My Dad

Over the years my father has had some major health issues (heart condition) and next week he is having another procedure. This upcoming and pending medical event has had me thinking back upon how this man not only help create me but also about the values he has instilled upon me.

I've never been what one would consider to be a daddy's girl. I was treated the same as my brothers. I grew up in a house of chaos, both parents working (at times two jobs to maintain a level of financial security); we were middle-class when middle-class was still an economical thing and we knew our place in the world and within the family.

My dad was not one of those... just wait until your father gets home dads. (It was my mom you had to be weary of- she was the ruler of the punishments)

He was an easy-going, calm person who would rather talk to you and explain what was wrong, what you didn't do or think about and rarely ever raised his voice. He was a solid man who took parental responsibility to a new level.

Over The Years I Have Seen His Health Weaken

When my dad retired from a major grocery store chain back in 2003, his first Monday as a retired person was spent in the hospital. He had to undergo a heart catheterization as an exploratory procedure because he was having some issues and the heart specialist wanted to see what was going on. Well... that simple procedure turned into a quadruple bypass operation. I can still remember the doctor telling me what had happened. In a large way, my own heart was hurting. My dad; this strong man in my life, was weak. His heart was weak.

Since then, he has been under the care of a heart doctor, having blood draws once a month, has to keep an eye on his coumadin levels and he can't even shave his beard too close; due to the reason that if he cuts or nicks himself he could bleed out.

Over the last decade and a half, he has had other minor procedures but nothing too life threatening... that is until now.

Next week he starts the process of having his blood drawn in preparation for another heart catheterization with the doctor leaning towards having to do a stint... possibly two.

Needless to say, we are all on edge. The last time he had a heart catheterization... we all remember too clearly what happened; and it's weighing heavily on our minds. We are hoping and praying for only the heart catheterization with a stint (or two) and nothing more. But how can you not revisit the past.

All this health news has brought forefront how my dad raised us.

• He taught us respect- by him respecting, loving and showing appreciation for my mother, dad showed us the true meaning of love and how to treat people
• He never judged people by their appearance. While he had this uncannily ability to see people for who they really were, he knew when someone was lying, was being untrustworthy and could always tell who was the bad guy
• His work ethic and providing for his family showed us how to be responsible and he always put family first
• He let us learn from our mistakes without being judgmental and degrading. He would let us screw up, then explain how we could have handled the situation better
• While he was the youngest of his siblings, he was the only boy in the family and he took the protection of his sisters seriously. You don't mess with him or his sisters! No matter how old they are.
• Not only did he take care of us and make sure our needs were met, but when my aunt was divorced and financially suffering to take care of her six children, dad stepped in and helped out. Once we all traveled down to Ohio's amusement park Cedar Point and went camping. Fifteen people (3 adults and the dozen kids) spent four days camping and having fun.
• He always put other's needs before his own; whether my mom, my grandma's, us kids or whomever was in need.
• He instilled daily life lessons to us- mechanical work on our cars when we were older, pulling our own weight and being financially responsible for the future.

My dad is gem... he is a saint... he is my dad... and this upcoming medical event has me on edge. It has me thinking how can this man, who will be 75 in April not pull through with the least possible repercussions.

I know someone will be watching over him during this procedure and I am praying for a positive outcome.

I will keep you all updated over the next two weeks on how things go.

Remember to never take for granted anyone in your life that you love. Every day is a gift we need to cherish and appreciate.

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