My Dad

MY DAD

There are people in our lives who often come and go. Some of which stamp our lives forever, whether it be good or bad. There are very few which stick around when you need them the most. However, when you are blessed with a dad like mine, you know he'll be there even when you're at your worst. My dad has been a true inspiration in my life. He has taught me to be positive no matter what life brings my way.

My parents were divorced when I was very young. This was a very devastating experience for me. My mother was granted custody so I was afraid I would never see my dad again. I begged her to let me stay with him. Unfortunately at the time I was too young to decide. Life as I knew it was over. Or so I thought. My dad came to see me everyday despite the long hours he worked as a welder. He would often take my sister and me out to the park or to the local skating rink. He explained to me that just because he and my mother were no longer together, it didn't change how much he or she loved my sister and me. And that sometimes it was for the best. Looking back now I know it killed him to let us go, but he never once showed it. He was always so strong and positive about the situation.

It wasn't long after the divorce that my grades starting slipping in school and I became very withdrawn. My dad noticed the change immediately. He did everything he could to help and eventually took my mother back to court and won full custody of my sister and me. We were so happy. By this time I was nearly twelve and reaching adolescence. It wasn't easy being a young pre-teen being raised by a single father. There were just some things that a dad just couldn't answer. However despite my trouble, my dad saw it through to the end. No matter how broke we were, or what adolescence brought his way he remained calm and strong and supported me 100%. He never seemed to let life get him down. I learned a valuable lesson growing up with my dad those years. He taught me that life wasn't always fair, but no matter what you have to remain positive to survive.

I wish I could say that I inherited my dad's positive out look on life, but at this point I would be lying. About five years ago my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was mortified. I automatically assumed it was an automatic death sentence. I was so scared I was going to lose him. He ended up having to go through surgery which was unsuccessful. I remember seeing him in the hospital after the surgery and asking him was he scared? He just laughed and said "Don't worry, we'll just have to beat it another way." Beat it another way, I'm thinking to myself. How can he even say that? Does he not know that everyone with cancer dies? What will happen to me if I lose my dad? I couldn't even think about it. I was taking over every aspect of my life. I literally couldn't function. I watched