On January 15, 2024, I rushed my father to the hospital during a winter storm, driving through snow, sleet, and ice. What is normally an hour-long drive took nearly ninety minutes, but we made it safely to Huntsville Hospital.

I insisted that he go into the emergency room while I parked. He thought he was simply having trouble catching his breath. When I joined him inside, I stayed by his side as he was evaluated. Throughout it all, he remained lighthearted and calm. I remember the moment the medical team’s urgency shifted. Once he was connected to an EKG, everything began moving much faster.

My father was experiencing episodes of ventricular tachycardia. He was taken back to be stabilized, and for a time, it seemed as though he would be okay. A nurse named Hannah showed exceptional kindness during this time. She brought him an extra blanket to keep him warm. I wrapped it around him, kissed him on the head, and he smiled, telling me how nice it was to have me fussing over him for a change.

At his request, I left to go take care of some things for him at home. He was stable and joking with the doctors and nursing staff. I told him that I would see him later that evening. That was the last time I saw him smile. Less than two hours after I left, he went into cardiac arrest and passed away.

My father was an extraordinary man and my greatest source of support. He was my advocate, my confidant, and the person I could always rely on. His loss has made the world feel dimmer, but I carry his influence with me every day. I try to live in a way that would make him proud, imperfectly, but with intention and love.

I walk in honor of my father.