Gotta Keep Up the Pace

My father passed away suddenly at home on the morning of Friday, March 17th, 2017.

Everybody has been asking me (after sharing their condolences, of course) - “was he sick? did you guys know?” & the answer is, no. my father had heart problems. just like me. ever since he was born. my dad’s first open-heart surgery was at 9 years old. oddly, my father and I shared the EXACT same type of mechanical heart valve. luckily for me, I did not go through as many surgeries as he did during his lifetime. furthermore, I wasn’t even born with any heart defects like he was. I was just one of the unlucky souls to develop an illness in my early 20s, and then have to go through a similar surgery. Not only did we share the same mechanical valve, but when I learned I needed OHS & a full valve replacement, my mom and dad knew EXACTLY who to go to. who would be able to save their son’s life? obviously - the man that saved my father’s life in his 40s when he was having his THIRD open-heart surgery.

It is just so weird how things come full circle. I was in no way prepared for my dad to pass away at 57 years old. In many regards, he was still a young man…

Still coming to grips with the reality of everything, only a week later at this point.. My father will be missed greatly. we might not have been as close as some other sons & their dads, but I know he loved me. and he knows I love him. and always will. He would want us to remember him in a good light, and celebrate his life with some of the more simple things that he enjoyed while he was with us.

I know that I will always remember the innumerable lessons he taught me about being a man - how to be an adult in the working world, how to be the person you want to be, and to know what you want.