What He Missed!
Growing up my father was my world, watching him waste away slowly was very traumatizing. He provided love, support, and compassion. I planned to involve my father in every aspect of my life including but not limited to; school graduations, dance recitals, weddings and those of my children as well. Unfortunately, he missed them because of the actions of others.
May 2012 my father attended my high school graduation. I was so happy he made it to Kansas, all the way from California to see me walk across that stage. He was so proud of his youngest child. A little over a year later in July 2013, my now husband proposed to me, I was so excited, I called my dad. My husband and I were planning a huge wedding for May 2014. Wedding dress, tuxedos, and flowers were all picked out. I requested that my father walk me down the aisle. He simply replied with, “Wat should I wear?”. We both laughed.
Just a few months later is when I got the call. “Ashley, your father has advanced stage four liver and colon cancer. In addition to that his liver is septic, there is nothing doctors can do.” All the doctors could do from there is make him comfortable. The internal medicine doctor gave him three months to live. I knew I would be going there to see him. I still wanted to see him. My sister prepared a facetime chat, I was able to see his face and hear his voice. I wish I knew that it would the last time I would be able to speak to him. There was so much I had to say. How do you wrap up a lifetime worth of feelings into a few sentences? I saw the pain in his face. He was having such a hard time catching his breath. After I spent time speaking with him I sat down with my now husband. My husband was so proud to meet my father. I sat and watched as my dad’s eyes filled with tears. He told my husband to make sure to take care of his baby girl.
Three days after my father was sent home with hospice care, I was on a plane from Kansas. When I arrived in Las Vegas to meet...