Father’s day is a special day in my books, every couple years it falls on my birthday. In my family it is always said I am a gift to my dad. The year I was born I was born was the day right after! I was always closer to my mom as kid growing up because my dad was the disciplinary and he was “mean” it was tough love. It was until I got sick that my bond with my dad changed.  I was able to see how much my illness affected my “tuff” dad. When my mom would have to give me Humera shots he would leave the room and turn the tv on he didn’t have to hear me scream of the pain. Anytime a doc tried to change my meds he would research and consult with other about options and alternative methods. He took me to several docs all over the state to see If I really had Crohn’s. Anytime I was in the hospital it was always my dad who slept on those uncomfortable chairs and would make me walk the halls holding my iv pole. When I got sent home with TPN he would prepare my bags with the vitamins and set up a bed right next to him. He would wake up check my blood sugar and give me insulin if needed. He would unhook me in the am and hook me up to the antibiotics and drive me to school and get home to start the process all over again.  When I was in the hospital for around a month before my surgery, he was there .  After my surgery it was getting up to walk and even helping me in the bathroom and just with everything. I am so thankful for my dad without his help and knowledge I have no idea where I would be.  He has always been in my corner and pushing me to be off meds and trying to find new medical approaches and bring them to my doctor.He spends so much of his time and money on new probiotics and vitamins trying to bring me some relief. Being sick has given me a relationship with him and a closeness that I don’t think would have had with him. Although I am not thrilled to live with my disease, this is a positive that has come from it. I am thankful for the time I have spent with him and have come to learn and understand what is the mystery of my dad. I love him so much and won’t ever be able to thank him for all he does and continues to do for me! That’s why he gets my 1^st shout out on my blog!! Thanks dad and I hope you know how important you are to me and how thankful I am! Happy Father’s day!!!

-XO