Around two years ago my Father, Michael, was diagnosed with stage four Renal Cell Carcinoma, known commonly as cancer of the kidney. He had shown no symptoms previous to waking up one day and not being able to move his left arm. The army of doctors had discovered a large tumor in his arm that had done so much damage that it actually caused his arm to fracture. Since his diagnosis he has endured a full shoulder replacement with a three week hospital stay, monthly visits to multiple doctors on Cape Cod as well as Boston, a week hospital stay due to a leg infection and most recently a near five month hospitalization tour at no less than seven different hospitals due to his cancer medication and infection helping to bring on two bouts with Congestive Heart Failure. He is currently in a rehab facility near where I live, trying to walk again and gain back as much of his independence as he possibly can so that he can return home.

Through all of this he still smiles, he still encourages me to stay strong, and he still teaches me what it is to be a man. I love him with all my heart. He is my best friend. He is my father.