The Next Day of Your Life is Never Guaranteed

'21 Senior

At the age of twelve, my life took a turn for the worst, and I never saw it coming in a million years. One morning my dad woke up with his hand the size of a bowling ball and tender to the touch. I remember hearing a cry of bloody murder as I woke, and for three years after this day, nothing was ever the same again. The roads were painted in black ice, and the state was under a “State of Emergency,” so going to the hospital was not even an option. For the next day and a half, my dad held back tears and pushed through the pain until it was safe to see a doctor. I remember that morning waking up and hugging my dad goodbye as he left for the hospital. To think that could've been the last hug, the last words I received from my father is mind-boggling. That afternoon, I received a text from my mom while at school proclaiming my dad was hospitalized.

The staph infection had transferred its poison throughout my father's body and was shutting down his organs and kidneys. For the next six to seven months, I lived in and out of the hospital, going there every day after school and returning there after cheer. I was my mom's rock and shoulder to cry on; she was so heartbroken and terrified for what was to come, so I became her willingness to be brave. This job was the hardest for me because I was also struggling to stay positive and having difficulty believing it would all be okay. At that moment, I knew it was time to grow up and put on a strong face for not just my own sake but for my mother. After the four to five surgeries, my dad went through, and the six long months of being in the hospital, he was finally coming home. I was beyond thrilled and could not wait to see my dad and have everything go back to normal. When he arrived home, it was nothing like it was before the incident, and felt much worse. Cheer practice was my escape from the depression I had started to obtain through this challenging time. I began to hide all of my feelings and started to feel so alone. Today, I am a strong young lady who works my butt off to be the best possible person for not just my friends and family but also for myself. I have grown to be a high honors student and receiving straight A’s throughout the past two years of high school just by putting in the extra work. Being able to appreciate the little things in life is something I have come to see myself doing daily. The phrase “the next day of your life is never guaranteed, so live to the fullest” has stuck with me throughout the past years. Children often do not realize how much they have to be grateful for when life seems perfect, and I was one of them. The struggle I went through with my family taught me to never take anything for granted, and I am so grateful for this learning experience.