A Thank You Letter To Dad: Lessons from a Cancer Journey

Dear Dad,

Recently I have been thinking about your journey with prostate cancer. I think about how you have endured all the pain you've experienced. You have gone through so much but remained compassionate towards all of us. There hasn't been a day that goes by that you are not there for our family.

Your fight, my inspiration

Your fight against cancer taught me how to live life to its fullest, and also how to handle pain and suffering, and still be there for everyone. I wanted to thank you for everything you have done and share how your inspiring journey has impacted me.

I still remember being scared to death and not knowing what to expect when you were diagnosed with prostate cancer and throat cancer at the same time. The thought of losing you gave me shivers. But I was amazed to see how calm and brave you responded to this news. You taught me how to be courageous and smile even when you are dealing with a lot.

Facing challenges with a smile

I still remember how seamlessly you managed all your appointments and treatments as if it was nothing. Seeing you like this gave me strength and helped me look positively toward any problem. With that big smile of yours, you never let the cancer take control over you. Even when things got tough when you were in pain and were continuously visiting doctors, you kept your sense of humor and stayed positive.

The power of positivity and support

Your positivity gave all of us strength. During those days I learned that staying uplifted is the key to surpassing every hardship, no matter what comes in your life. I was amazed to see how you still managed to laugh and make all of us feel good all the time. It was you who kept our spirits high. Your journey also showed me how important it is to be surrounded by good people.

Remember the time when everyone was there to help us? There were many people I never knew who came to your support from far and near. You have always supported our family greatly and held us when we fell. But when you needed care, you didn’t hesitate to ask for help. It taught me that it's okay to need people. That’s what family and friends do: they stand up when you hit a rock.

Leading by example

Seeing you go on regular checkups and maintain your health, I realized how important it is to have good health and how to maintain it. It's you who taught me how to be proactive and to take care of myself as well as of others. Dad, I want you to know that your fight with both of these cancers and other illnesses has helped me become a better version of myself.

Our shared fight

You have shown courage, bravery, resilience, and patience. I'm so proud of you and want to let you know that you are not alone in this. This is our fight, and we will get through this. Thank you for being the best dad in the world and for teaching so many lessons through this journey. You have been with us for 90 years, and we have learned so much from you.

With love, your daughter Diane