Father’s Day, A Darn Good Day

Editor’s Note: A four year survivor of Stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Brian T. Ross was recently named the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 2012 Man of The Year for having raised over $120,000 for leukemia and lymphoma research. His journal with and beyond cancer is chronicled on cancerforward.org. To read more: http://bit.ly/M6cy20

Father’s Day in 2008 — though I wasn’t a dad quite yet — was nevertheless a darn good day. It fell two weeks after chemo, right around the point that we would usually head in for another round. Except…this time, there were no more rounds. May 27 through May 29 had been the last one, and everything was all clear. What could be better than that? Well, here’s what:

Father’s Day in June 2009 was our first with Savannah Hope. That same day, she was christened in front of hundreds of people and never shed a tear. I think she recited the entire New Testament as well, although I might have imagined that last part.

Father’s Day in June 2010 would be Savannah’s last as an only child. Her little brother was well on the way.

Father’s Day in June 2011 was twice as fun with little Turner around. I doubt I’m the first dad to admit that, even after we knew he was coming, I genuinely thought I would never be able to love him (or anyone) as much as our first child. Turner proved me wrong almost immediately.

Father’s Day is almost here again. Barring any wacky surprises on the family planning front, this year I will simply give thanks for my wife, Catie, our two more-or-less perfect kiddos, my own dad, and four years in remission. I will also raise my glass to all the good dads out there (such as my own), and the good dad-in-laws out there (such as my own). I hope all of your Father’s Day celebrations are as rewarding as any of the last four have been for me.

Because that would be another darn good day.

Category: Cancer

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