12/19/2025
It’s that time of year again—my annual reminder.
A story I share not for sympathy, but because someone out there might need to hear it. ❤️
42 years ago today, my world shifted forever.
I was just 5 years old—too small to understand the weight of what was happening.
My dad, tired, in pain, and not feeling well, went to work that day.
Why? Because he wanted my brother and me to have the Christmas we deserved.
But that day, tragedy struck.
He fell seven stories down an elevator shaft—breaking his back and both legs.
That Christmas wasn’t filled with laughter.
It wasn’t wrapped in twinkling lights or the smell of fresh pine.
It was spent in a cold, sterile hospital room,
punctuated only by machines and whispered prayers.
And yet…even there, my dad’s love shone brighter than any tree or ornament.
He gave me a Rainbow Brite doll.
And in my little 5-year-old hands, it was magic.
But the real gift…was him.
A man who had risked everything, even his own body, just to make us happy.
Life after that day was hard.
Endless surgeries.
Countless hospital stays.
Pain that became normal.
Sacrifice that stayed silent.
And still…he never let us feel the full weight of what he endured.
He left this world when I was just 20.
Leaving a hollow ache in my heart that never fully healed.
But in that pain, he left me something priceless:
The most precious gift we can give our children—or anyone we love—is ourselves.
Our presence.
Our love.
Our unwavering attention.
Toys fade.
Presents are temporary.
But love. Sacrifice. Memory. Those endure forever.
This Christmas, I remember him.
I honor him.
I carry him in every quiet act of care, every word of encouragement, every moment of love.
And I hope you do the same.
The people you love don’t need perfection.
They don’t need grand gestures.
They need you.
Be present.
Show your love.
Hold the moments close.
Because at the end of the day…
Love is the only gift that never fades.
And if you leave this world tomorrow,
make sure they knew you loved them today.
Make sure your heart was in every hug.
Every word. Every moment.
That’s the gift that stays. ❤️
