Working Wives & Bachelorettes: Still Daddy's Little Girl

Family relationships create an interesting dynamic, especially relationships between parents and grown children. I have a wonderful relationship with both parents. It has become something I really cherish as an adult. I have seen my relationship with my mom turn into a friendship, but I am definitely still a daddy's girl. He would give me the world if he could. I have been thinking a lot about this relationship because my dad has gone through another unexpected major surgery. He had his spleen removed on Monday and currently, is recovering in ICU. Even though his recovery is going well, the fear of something bad happening lingers in the back of my mind.

I have gone through quite a few health scares with my dad in the last decade or so. He had open heart surgery after a heart attack when I was 18. His kidney was taken out 6 years ago after cancer was found growing in it. He experienced a pulmonary embolism while recovering from that, which thankfully did not take his life. This summer he had part of his small intestine removed. He has issues with his blood cell count that could potentially affect how his body is able to fight infection. In the last couple of years, he has been in and out of the hospital so many times that it seems like it is his second home. We jokingly say that my parents have paid for their doctor's child to go through private school.

Many children see their parents go through major health crises, whether it be cancer or other serious illness, but you can never prepare for it. By the grace of God, he has always recovered. In fact, this past Saturday, he and my mom drove 8 hours round-trip to bring me a large piece of furniture that has been in their garage for over a year. And he helped drag it up 2 1/2 flights of stairs. I have been reassured that the furniture haul was not to blame for his current condition. Talk about a guilty conscience.

I have seen my dad scared and weak, as well as fearless and strong. I love my dad because he's my dad, but he is a man I admire and respect. I know I am blessed to have a special relationship with my dad...and it is something that I don't take for granted.