September 2nd, 2010: The Worst Day of my Life
I’m not uncomfortable telling you guys- many of whom I haven’t had the fortune to speak with, much; much less, meet in real life- that my family is going through a tremendous hardship, now; I feel that it is largely your business, and I ask for your help.
On Tuesday, August 31st, I learned that my father was diagnosed with leukemia. It was a startling diagnosis that came out of absolutely nowhere; however, the doctors gave him an excellent prognosis, so I was scared of what would happen during his treatments, but honestly, not sad- on the evening of Wednesday, September 1st, I was laughing hysterically with animeluver1029 because our third group skit, “Hopelessly Devoted to Yami Bakura,” had just been finished and was being uploaded. At 6:00a on Thursday, September 2nd, my mom’s phone call woke me up, begging me to leave my college town 200 miles away and drive to my hometown immediately, because his vitals had completely crashed overnight. I made it in good time to the hospital before losing him that afternoon. He was 57 years old.
Cancer does not run in my family. I have had one great-uncle die from bone cancer in the early 1980’s, but otherwise, nobody in my family has particularly struggled with it. My great-grandmother suffered from breast cancer, but she overcame it somewhat easy (relatively speaking, as cancer goes) and lived to be 93; my father and I both have had minor brushes with skin cancer, but all of those cases for both of us were solved with a minor surgery or two (it happened to him in 2007, me, in 2003). This diagnosis was a complete surprise that nobody ever saw coming: my dad was a tremendously healthy man on Wednesday, August 18th, the last day that I saw him. I left for college that day, the day that the second episode of Blue-Eyes Witness News was uploaded: I drove out of my driveway, dad standing by the basketball hoop, waving. I waved back and turned around the corner and turned left at the stop sign and was soon on the highway. I never saw his eyes open again.
I am demolished; I am devastated. When I left the hospital and returned to my home, my dog greeted my brother, mother and me, …and then whined continually and scratched at the door. I’m watching my widowed mother attempt to be chipper in her distractions of making plans; I’m watching tears drip down the cheeks of my orphaned 16-year-old brother as he sleeps. I, myself, am only twenty; there will be an empty seat at my graduation ceremony in seven months, and there will be one fewer big tough burly man crying at my wedding in ten years. My baby brother will most likely walk me down the aisle on that day. As I type this letter now, I put on a necklace chain a bracelet that Dad gave me on June 12, 1991- my first birthday; engraved on the little gold band is “Love, Daddy.” The pain literally leaves me breathless.
I cannot even see tomorrow; much less, any plans to attend cons that I’d been looking at on just this past Monday. Youmacon and and MAGFest have become intimidating, complicated events that require planning that I am not particularly capable of processing, at this point. EXP Con, I will still be attending, because St. Augustine is 30 minutes south of my hometown; therefore, it is an effortless trip, monetarily speaking; I don’t want to give up EXP Con, because I find myself desperate for the things that never failed to bring me nothing but happiness. I will be at EXP Con, and I hope desperately that the Sunshine Duelists will be able to party together as planned, and that we can maybe record a few skits… the script of Blue-Eyes Witness News episode 3 is in writing; and, I got an idea a few weeks ago for another fantastic cosplay music video. Thoughts like these are keeping me feeling as positive as I could feel, under the circumstances.
I have, of course, had plenty of splendidly kind people ask what they can do to help. We don’t need money- I mean, I can’t really toss around a couple-hundred dollars to go to cons because that’s no longer a priority, but when it comes to important things, my grandfather is wealthy; as well as, we have spectacular insurance. The honest answer is that my family requests that you guys pray for us (if you’re not religious, then, think positive thoughts). Already I’m getting very heartening, encouraging text messages, instant messages and e-mails. We are a family that has deep roots in our Christian faith, and our lives were already so tremendously surrounded by positivity, that genuinely, we know we will make it through this and we will all be happy again soon.
Even now, I am still surrounded by positivity, and I ask that this keep happening: if you specifically want to do something for me, then, tell me a joke, or tell me about some amazing cookie, ice cream or brownie that you recently ate. Talk to me about Yu-Gi-Oh, because Yu-Gi-Oh, the Mario Bros and DragonBall Z (and all of their abridged series, etc) are things that have done nothing but give me constant happiness. I like to see happy artwork, and I like to see comic strips, so if you find those/make those, show me.
And, the verdict on my attendance at Youmacon or MAGFest is still not completely set in stone. While money is somewhat an issue, I also prioritize my spending on things that bring me positivity and joy- and, nothing brings me more of those extremely necessary things, than a con.
At this point, I do not feel like talking; I may leave Skype, facebook chat or AIM up, but please do not attempt to chat with me unless I approach you, first. Now, all I ask is that you think of me, and maybe send me a text or post through livejournal, dA, twitter or facebook. I’ll update again soon, perhaps with a memoir of the man who I have made it my goal in life to become.
On Tuesday, August 31st, I learned that my father was diagnosed with leukemia. It was a startling diagnosis that came out of absolutely nowhere; however, the doctors gave him an excellent prognosis, so I was scared of what would happen during his treatments, but honestly, not sad- on the evening of Wednesday, September 1st, I was laughing hysterically with animeluver1029 because our third group skit, “Hopelessly Devoted to Yami Bakura,” had just been finished and was being uploaded. At 6:00a on Thursday, September 2nd, my mom’s phone call woke me up, begging me to leave my college town 200 miles away and drive to my hometown immediately, because his vitals had completely crashed overnight. I made it in good time to the hospital before losing him that afternoon. He was 57 years old.
Cancer does not run in my family. I have had one great-uncle die from bone cancer in the early 1980’s, but otherwise, nobody in my family has particularly struggled with it. My great-grandmother suffered from breast cancer, but she overcame it somewhat easy (relatively speaking, as cancer goes) and lived to be 93; my father and I both have had minor brushes with skin cancer, but all of those cases for both of us were solved with a minor surgery or two (it happened to him in 2007, me, in 2003). This diagnosis was a complete surprise that nobody ever saw coming: my dad was a tremendously healthy man on Wednesday, August 18th, the last day that I saw him. I left for college that day, the day that the second episode of Blue-Eyes Witness News was uploaded: I drove out of my driveway, dad standing by the basketball hoop, waving. I waved back and turned around the corner and turned left at the stop sign and was soon on the highway. I never saw his eyes open again.
I am demolished; I am devastated. When I left the hospital and returned to my home, my dog greeted my brother, mother and me, …and then whined continually and scratched at the door. I’m watching my widowed mother attempt to be chipper in her distractions of making plans; I’m watching tears drip down the cheeks of my orphaned 16-year-old brother as he sleeps. I, myself, am only twenty; there will be an empty seat at my graduation ceremony in seven months, and there will be one fewer big tough burly man crying at my wedding in ten years. My baby brother will most likely walk me down the aisle on that day. As I type this letter now, I put on a necklace chain a bracelet that Dad gave me on June 12, 1991- my first birthday; engraved on the little gold band is “Love, Daddy.” The pain literally leaves me breathless.
I cannot even see tomorrow; much less, any plans to attend cons that I’d been looking at on just this past Monday. Youmacon and and MAGFest have become intimidating, complicated events that require planning that I am not particularly capable of processing, at this point. EXP Con, I will still be attending, because St. Augustine is 30 minutes south of my hometown; therefore, it is an effortless trip, monetarily speaking; I don’t want to give up EXP Con, because I find myself desperate for the things that never failed to bring me nothing but happiness. I will be at EXP Con, and I hope desperately that the Sunshine Duelists will be able to party together as planned, and that we can maybe record a few skits… the script of Blue-Eyes Witness News episode 3 is in writing; and, I got an idea a few weeks ago for another fantastic cosplay music video. Thoughts like these are keeping me feeling as positive as I could feel, under the circumstances.
I have, of course, had plenty of splendidly kind people ask what they can do to help. We don’t need money- I mean, I can’t really toss around a couple-hundred dollars to go to cons because that’s no longer a priority, but when it comes to important things, my grandfather is wealthy; as well as, we have spectacular insurance. The honest answer is that my family requests that you guys pray for us (if you’re not religious, then, think positive thoughts). Already I’m getting very heartening, encouraging text messages, instant messages and e-mails. We are a family that has deep roots in our Christian faith, and our lives were already so tremendously surrounded by positivity, that genuinely, we know we will make it through this and we will all be happy again soon.
Even now, I am still surrounded by positivity, and I ask that this keep happening: if you specifically want to do something for me, then, tell me a joke, or tell me about some amazing cookie, ice cream or brownie that you recently ate. Talk to me about Yu-Gi-Oh, because Yu-Gi-Oh, the Mario Bros and DragonBall Z (and all of their abridged series, etc) are things that have done nothing but give me constant happiness. I like to see happy artwork, and I like to see comic strips, so if you find those/make those, show me.
And, the verdict on my attendance at Youmacon or MAGFest is still not completely set in stone. While money is somewhat an issue, I also prioritize my spending on things that bring me positivity and joy- and, nothing brings me more of those extremely necessary things, than a con.
At this point, I do not feel like talking; I may leave Skype, facebook chat or AIM up, but please do not attempt to chat with me unless I approach you, first. Now, all I ask is that you think of me, and maybe send me a text or post through livejournal, dA, twitter or facebook. I’ll update again soon, perhaps with a memoir of the man who I have made it my goal in life to become.