My Angel,

I’m so grateful for you. Words don’t really even do it justice but I’m really going to try. Since I was growing up, you always made sure that I had the best life any child could possibly have. Not just me, but my siblings too. We are so blessed to have a father as amazing as you. You literally would go to the end of the world and back just to make us smile.

Growing up, you would take us to Met games, Broadway plays, all different restaurants, and to top it off so many vacations that gave me memories to last literally a lifetime. Just thinking about it, you never missed one of our soccer games, lacrosse, softball, or baseball games either. Also, you somehow make each individual child feel so important. You sacrificed so much for me in particular, when I was going through my depression when I was in 11 ^th grade, you sent me to school every morning even though it was miles and miles away from home. If that were not awesome enough, you would drive me to my favorite restaurant just to get me my banana cream pie!

Aside from all the silly things, you have taught me life lessons as well such as, strength, love, positivity and happiness. Strength is a really big one, obviously growing up you always taught me how to be strong, and I listened, but now watching what you went through really showed me strength. The past two years Daddy, please don’t be mad when I say any of this, you fought for your life. August we found out you had stage four-pancreatic cancer, since that day until March, you lost 80 pounds, you went through 2 different types of chemo, radiation, and in and out of the ICU a few times. You couldn't really walk now, and then they stopped treatment but you never gave up hope. You smiled and fought and told me that you’re not going anywhere.

If that’s not strength and positivity, I don’t know what is. Love, since I’ve been growing up, you’ve taught me love. How you love mommy, how you love us, your friends, the rest of the family. You really are my role model, best friend, and my rock. Happiness is obvious, everyone always tells me I’m a spitting image of you, I honestly think its because we both have the same sense of humor and were both always smiling. Even then, think about it, everyone was crying and we used to be sitting there making jokes about your blood levels that keep dropping. Who else would do that honestly?

People say you don’t realize what you have until its too late, I’m starting to believe that’s true. Obviously, my whole life I realized how perfect of a Daddy you are, but until you left me I never realized how grateful I am for you and how much you’ve done. Which I hate to admit but it’s the honest truth. Now, I think about it every day. I look at pictures, I write poems, I think about you all day every day, especially because you’re in heaven and not home. I love you, Daddy, thank you for everything you’ve done for me and always keeping a smile on my face no matter the circumstance. Don’t ever forget how grateful I am for you and everything you have done for me.