The Power of Positivity

On December 18, 2015 my brother Cole and I were watching a movie downstairs in my house when we heard a loud thud from my parent's room above us and not split second after my mom wailing at the top of her lungs at my dad to get up. I ran upstairs so fast I don’t believe my feet touched the stairs. I saw my dad unconscious on the floor beside his bed. Cole was behind me, but I blocked him from seeing what I saw and commanded him to dial 911. My mom was hunched over my dad still screaming and shaking him trying to wake him up. I rush downstairs to unlock the door for the paramedics and to check on Cole. He was still on the phone with 911 when I heard my dad regain consciousness. This all happened within 20 seconds.

We are all shaking and he is very confused, scared, and his head was bleeding from hitting the dresser. I hear the sirens and the paramedics are quick to help. They told us that he seems fine now and it was just a side effect from the chemotherapy.

That night they took him into the hospital. It was determined that he had blood clots in his lungs. The doctors used the term "massive amounts of clots" which gave us no relief.

The day after his incident, my dad was fully conscious and ready to joke again. I kept a blow-up alien in my car and he knew that. He asked me to bring it to his room. Once I brought it up he told me to put it on the sink to make it look like it was peeing. That moment perfectly describes my dad.

On November 12, 2015 my dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

I remember that day vividly. I had just gotten home from soccer practice just like any other Thursday. I heard my dad’s truck pull up to the house from our driveway, which I thought was odd since he is usually home hours before me. Curious, I opened the back door and walked outside and see my mom with red puffy eyes and a tear-stained face, my heart instantly dropped to my feet.

I started to ask her what was wrong, until I saw my dad who was just stepping out of his red truck looking completely defeated, a look I never saw on him.

My mom just walked passed me, and strained her voice to call for my younger brother to join us downstairs.

Cole and I sat on the couch waiting for what could only be bad news. My mom then explained to us that my dad’s throat pain was much worse than we all thought it was.

She tried to relay the news to us as positive as she could by reassuring us and making promises that we knew she could not keep.

My dad looked at our family and just smiled. He told us that he was going to be fine and there was nothing to worry about.

Even though he just found out he had cancer he still smiled.

Three days after he was diagnosed, he was told he had to start chemotherapy. My mom began ferociously researching tips on ways to beat cancer. She created a new diet for him as well as using essential oils all over his body.

I can still smell the oregano, frankincense, and myrrh oil that burned my nose for months.

My dad remained positive every single day after he was diagnosed.

He went into the hospital two times a week with a smile on his face and brought joy to everyone he talked to. His positivity touched people wherever he went.

On December 25, 2015, days after my dad passed out at home, he was still in the hospital.

We drove there and walked into my dad wearing a red Snuggie and a Santa hat saying “Ho, Ho, Ho!” And my parents were giddy with laughter.

Suddenly, it did not seem to feel like we were in a hospital room. I felt warm and happy that we were all together.

Days after on December 28, 2015 my dad was released from the hospital. He told everyone that he was “Superman” and that he would beat cancer.

On January 29, 2016 he did.

Even though he beat cancer, he still had to complete more treatments. Amazingly enough, throughout the whole process, he never missed a day of work (he was already scheduled off for the holidays during the hospital stay).

To this day, he still goes in for check-ups and I still feel a little nervous, but it never seems to phase him or his doctor who calls him a “walking miracle”.

He says God has him and always will.

My dad touched so many people with his journey and his positive and fearless approach to life.