“I have been diagnosed with Leukemia & MDS”. By far the hardest words to hear not only for myself but for all of my dad’s family and friends. December 23, 2015, was the day my dad presented me with such heartbreaking and emotional news. It is a day and conversation that will stick with me forever. It is a day where everyone in my family suddenly changed. It has been almost a year since those words were said to me and a lot has occurred. As we have experienced many up’s and downs throughout this incredibly difficult process, I believe everything happens for a reason and that good results are destined to be the conclusion of this journey my family and I have traveled through. My dad, the reason I have learned to never give up. My dad, my fighting warrior.

My dad’s journey in fighting leukemia and MDS has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. Last Christmas Eve was the beginning of the fight for all of us. That morning, we spent the day with his Oncologist going over his final consultation as well as going over possible treatments. When his doctor announced that he should start chemotherapy right away, he wasn't joking. Three days later, my dad started his first round of treatment. From there on out, my dad received seven days of treatment every four weeks. In between all of that, my dad underwent many blood transfusions due to abnormal blood levels, various hospital and overnight visits because of other nasty infections and had his tonsils removed. He also has his big upcoming bone marrow transplant.

In early spring of 2016, the Oncologist approached my dad with the idea of undergoing a bone marrow transplant. As the procedure and process was very tedious and long, it would give my dad the opportunity of going through remission of his leukemia. The second he heard the word “remission”, he didn't even have to think twice about taking on the procedure. The first obstacle of the procedure was finding a perfect match. As many individuals were thrown around for being tested, individuals including myself, my older brother, and all of my dads siblings. His oldest brother, Thom, came back being his perfect match! As time passed with my dad fighting various infections due to not being on chemotherapy to prompt for his transplant, Thom became ineligible to be his donor match because of various health reasons. As my dad continued to fight off infections, his doctor announced the news that a perfect donor match was found for my dad!

As we start the month of October, such great things are on their way for my dad, family and I. Finally recovering from infections and getting his tonsils taken out, the next steps of my dad’s transplant are coming up! By the end of the month of October, if all goes well, his transplant should take place! Even though my dad will be hospitalized for up to five weeks, nothing can beat the feeling of knowing that my dad’s chances of coming out of this surgery in remission to is so incredibly high!

To all of the doctors and nurses who have provided such great service to my dad, especially to his Oncologists, thank you. To my family who has stuck together to fight this disgusting disease as one, thank you. To my incredible friends who have been by my side through this entire process and who have provided support to my family and I, thank you. And most importantly, to the amazing individual out there in this world who is the perfect bone marrow donor match, thank you. Because of you, you have made this crazy and emotional process that much easier for my family and I. I love you!

To my fighting warrior, my dad, thanks for teaching me to never give up and that anything is possible. Regardless of your own struggles and ups and down with being sick, you always were there being the best father you ever could be. Brett, Brooklyn and I couldn't ask for a better father. Keep fighting on dad!! We will always be here for you. We love you to the moon and back.