My sister Noreen and I were barely teenagers while this was all going on.  In our family at that time, the word "cancer" was considered taboo.  We never fully understood the battle he was facing, the fears he may have had, and the uncertainty each day brought. 

 

Our dad made life seem normal for us, although his was in complete turmoil. His treatment consisted of radiation every day for several weeks.  We saw him wake up every morning at 5am, drive an hour and a half for the radiation, and then drive home another hour and a half, only to go to work for nine hours every day. He did this for at least eight weeks.  He tried to hide just how much it was all affecting him. He hid his pain and suffering because he was the sole provider for our family. Not once did he ever miss a day of work. Not once did we ever not have food on the table. Not once did we ever go without lunch money for the week. 

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Cancer affects everyone differently.  I thank The Lord for the strength and energy our dad had to go on and continue to fight through the struggles that cancer can bring.  I’m so thankful he was able to support us during that time, and I’m so thankful our Heavenly father provided us with an earthly father who always taught us family comes first.  He beat that cancer and he won that battle! 

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We all know others are not as fortunate.  No one ever wants to hear the words “you have cancer”, and about thirty-two years later, once again, he was told those very words.   In 2012, our father was about to begin another battle, he was now diagnosed with colon cancer.  Sadly, in June of 2014, we lost our dad to the effects of the disease.  

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