I Hate This Day

On this day in 2007, this is what my family looked like. While we had challenges like everyone else, I would honestly say that I had my idea of a perfect life.

That is until I was told that my seemingly healthy 14-year-old son, Andrew, had Leukemia!!! How could this possibly be? He was the healthiest one of the four of us. He just led his travel soccer team to a Pennsylvania state championship.

We spent the next 166 days in the hospital as Andrew battled through dozens of operations, four strokes, and a brain aneurysm. He was supposed to get better. He was a beast! This was supposed to be a horrible, temporary obstacle.

My perfect family imploded as Andrew died in Ali’s arms on July 14th. July 14th makes my stomach sick, January 29th is not far behind. Ali shouldn’t be holding a picture of Andrew. He should be by her side…as he always was.

I don’t share this to seek sympathy, but to help others learn a lesson that we learned in the hardest possible way. Your life can change in an instant! Make the next moment in your life worthwhile.

Ali & Andrew’s Dad