George B

The relationship between my father and me was the sort of relationship one would see in a movie such as Nim’s Island, minus the completely crazy scientist losing his daughter plot. In a nutshell, we were close. I was daddy’s little girl and well, he was my daddy. Now, I’m not saying we had the perfect relationship, but I can tell you that I got along with him way better than I got along with my mother. My father had sort of a weakness for me, in a non-creepy way. I would never get in trouble, and he always let me stay up late with him. We would make coke floats and watch Fox News together. After a crazy night of politics and Bill O’Reilly, we would wake up early, see my brother and sisters off to school and watch The Fox and Hound together. When I reached school age, he would send me off to school with the rest of the Ball troupe and I’m convinced he missed me the most. My father would also allow me to play hooky and stay home with him. Of course, he thought I was sick and catered to my every need. As much as I took advantage of him, he still loved me and I still loved him.

Not only was he a great father to me, but he was a great father to my brother. My big brother was born with a condition called Prader Willi Syndrome. Prader Willi syndrome is due to lack of some of the genes on chromosome 15 that causes insatiable hunger and can lead to morbid obesity. Faced with this challenge, many men would crumble and eventually leave the family or give up hope on the child. My father did not. For instance, the doctors said David’s condition would never allow him to ride a bike. Daddy worked with my brother every single day, teaching him to ride that bicycle. Not only did my brother break the mold and accomplish that goal, but also my father showed his true colors. He was a man true to his word, ready to do anything to help someone, with a love for his children substantially more than my brother’s hunger for food.

As amazing and caring as my father was, it could not stop bad things from happening to him. While fighting in Vietnam, he was exposed to the toxic herbicide, codenamed “agent orange.” The colonel was diagnosed with kidney cancer in the spring of 1993. He went into remission until 2003, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Daddy passed away May 17, 2007. He was my rock, the one man who I could trust no matter what. He is honestly the best person I know and I miss him so much. He is my hero.

Submitted by Anonymous

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