Yesterday was an emotion filled day for me. I celebrated both good and bad things that represented determination.
The topic of this post is determination. The photo of this post represents my dad's determination to live the longest he can, to beat cancer, and to know he gave his best fight.
The story goes like this. August 2012 mom and I brought him to the ER 10 min to midnight for chest pains and difficulty in breathing. 1 week later we find out he has stage 4 Prostate Cancer. He was adamant he did not want to under go radiation or chemo therapy.
One and a half years later he has fought hard to beat this thing with all the odds against him: he's in his early 80s with underlying health issues. We have tried all other treatment options...but the cancer is beginning to rear its ugly head and become more aggressive.
Our next best option of treatment now is chemo therapy. We are now stopping the chemo pills and will begin IV chemo in the next week or two. My dad's tune has shifted. His determination to live has out weighed his fear of losing his hair. This is the next step to life for him. To see his kids and grand children grow.
I admire him for his strength, his value in life and family, to make sure we are all okay, his selflessness. I admire him for teaching me that giving up because its easy isnt an option that perservering is always the option.
I just admire him for his courage in fighting this head on. He is the strongest man I know.
For these reasons and so much more...I love him.
