Thank You Daddy, I Love You

 Sometimes life is awful.

Sometimes life is hard.

Sometimes we don't know how to deal with our life and the situations we are in at this very moment.

That is where I am in my life right now. I think this is the most difficult and painful situation I have been threw.

Here's what is going on.....

On Monday, May 23, at 2:00 am, I was sound asleep at my parents house in Florida. That day my dad was going to start his intense rehab therapy. It was all set up. He was out of the hospital after a whole month in.

The Physical therapist, Occupational Therapist and the Speech Therapist where scheduled to work with him 6 days a week. We had his clothes ready for him and he was going to be one step closer to coming home.

If anyone could make a complete recovery, my dad could! He was such a fighter! A superhero in my eyes!

But something was not right on Sunday. He was sleeping a lot and having a hard time breathing, even after they bumped up his oxygen. He kept asking for pain and nausea medicine when he was awake.

The nurse kept reassuring my mother and I that his vitals were fine and he needed his rest for the hard work he had ahead of him.

Dad was a very sick man for a long time. Here is the long list of diseases my dad beat!

                                     Mouth Cancer

                                     Throat Cancer

                                     Cancer of the bowl
     (which caused him to live with an Ileostomy bag for the rest of his life)

                                     Skin Cancer

                                     Lung cancer

                         He had emergency open heart surgery, due to pulmonary embolism
                                    (blood clots going into his lungs and his heart)

                                     He had only one working kidney and was diabetic

This would stun and amaze the doctors every time he told his stories and gave his medical history.
They would always say he was a miracle man and that was an understatement!

I have never seen someone with such a will to live and fight to stay alive. He knew he had a lot to live for. He was very loved and he loved his life.

He was a proud grandfather and a loving husband. I was the luckiest girl in the world to have this amazing man for a father.

He taught me so much that I will keep with me for the rest of my life, and hopefully I will be able to pass these things down to my children, and them to theirs.

My dad's love for his family and for life was undeniable. No one could ever say anything bad about him. He always did the right thing and followed his heart. I admired him so much for his courage and compassion. Words cannot describe life with John Costello. My family and I were lucky to have him in our lives for as long as we did. He was my best friend, my mentor, and inspiration. He was my daddy, and I was his little girl.

I know that he is now watching over us, and he is in perfect health, enjoying his new life.

In that I find comfort. He is no longer in pain, or uncomfortable or suffering the way he did when he was here, all though you would have never guessed it. He never once complained about anything. He always took care of everyone else and wanted nothing in return. He was a great man, and will be missed until the day I die.

I am taking what my dad taught me and getting stronger every day. I have a full life to lead, a wonderful husband and two beautiful children to take care of. I still have my mother who I love more than words can say.

I will miss my daddy, yes, but I also have a lot to be thankful for. Dad would have wanted me to move on and that is what I am trying to do.

Life is precious, don't waste it. If you love someone, tell them. If you want to do something do it!
It goes by fast, cherish it and those you love in it!

I love you daddy, forever! Thank you for all our time together and for all you taught me, I will take it with me always.

                               Love Much, Live Well,
                                             Michelle xoxo