Sometime in 2007, my father was diagnosed with multiple melanoma. He went through a lot during that year with his chemo treatments. 2 out of 3 people who are diagnosed with this cancer pass away within the year of being diagnosed. But my father was strong and his cancer went into remission. In Sept. 2010 the doctors found leukemia cells in his bone marrow and promptly began another round of chemo. Everything seemed to be going well, he was on the donor list to get new bone marrow and we were all very optimistic about his battle. But one morning in October he woke up unable to breath. He was rushed to the emergency room and emitted to the ICU for rest. His kidneys started shutting down from the the harsh chemicals of the chemo and his lungs were shutting down from the strain of over working.
My dad passed away after a week in ICU on Oct. 26. The last time I saw him awake he held me and told me he loved me then afterwards told my step-mother and me that instead of resting he was going to party with the nurses. Thinking of this still brings me to tears. I love my dad and miss him so much.
But instead of thinking of the sad moments I remember all the great things we did together. My dad loved the outdoors. Everything about it: camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and sailing. Especially sailing. He loved sailing so much he built his own sailboat.
I got to sail in the boat only once. I always meant to learn how to sail while living in Hawaii so when I came back I would be able to sail with my dad. We never got to sail together since I moved back so I treasure the day that my dad and I did get to sail years ago.
He always called himself Captain Kidd or "The Kidd". He had his own flag and even made his own cannon, which made a loud sound but didn't actually shoot anything. While my dad never had the chance to travel he always said he traveled vicariously through me and to continue doing so I got a pirate captain doll named Captain Kidd with my dad's flag emblem on his hat.
He's already visited a wheat field. :)
I'm also raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in my dad's name. I'm signed up to walk the Night the Light fundraiser that is happening on Oct. 1st. Here is my donation page and my team page, my team is Team Watford. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Even the smallest amount is closer to finding a cure.
This blog will be about the adventures my dad went on and the adventures he will continue to go on in spirit.
