Monday, September 16: Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn’t necessarily need to be romantic.)
 My father and mother. |
| My late father with my mom |
Dear Dad,
It has been almost 15 years since you left me. I miss you so. We had no idea that you were sick and that you had blockage of a main artery of more 95 percent. You went so suddenly that day in May 1999. I received the call at my school library that you had been discovered dead in your home, and it seemed the world turned upside down.
I wish I could turn back the time and would have been more proactive. Did you know that September is National Cholesterol Awareness Month? High cholesterol is what caused you to die so young because your artery clogged, leading to your massive heart attack. I wish I could have encouraged you to eat healthier and exercise more. If you were with me today, we would go for a walk every night. I would bring you fresh fruit and make you drink plenty of water.
Your mother, my grandmother, also died from a heart attack. I am now at risk of leaving my daughter motherless. Dad, I got a bad report from my doctor at my physical. My cholesterol is not high but my good cholesterol is too low. I have tried to avoid bad foods and learned from you and grandma. I exercise when I am able and try to walk as much as possible. I am keeping my bad cholesterol in check but need to work on increasing my good cholesterol. I am going to have to research how to do that.
I went to the emergency room Sunday morning. I thought I was having a heart attack and did not want to take a chance. You know more women then men die of heart disease and our symptoms are different. Click here for a list of the six common symptoms of heart attack in women: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/womens-heart-attack-symptoms
My heart is okay, but I have to go the doctor Monday for more tests to see why I feel so ill. Maybe it was the bronchitis, and I broke another rib two weeks ago? I don’t know. I will let you know what they say is the cause.
 |
| Your granddaughter feeding your great grandson, Seth Colson |
You know how much I love and miss you and grandma. I would love to come be with you guys, but not yet. I have to be here for my daughter’s wedding and then her grandchildren. You would love your granddaughter. She is funny, loves to sing, and plays softball. Did I mention your other grandchildren too? You have two other granddaughters and a grandson as well as three great grandchildren.
I wish you could be here, but I know you are busy in heaven with my little boy that I miscarried in 2004 and your other grandchild, my niece or nephew, that my sister miscarried the same year. You know at the time, your daughters cried over their lost children, gone in the same year. We were talking about it. I don’t remember who realized that they are both up there with you, saying look at me grandpa. It is something I dream about.
Well, I love you Dad. I miss you so terribly. I miss hearing you preach, and I miss your laughter. I wish we could have had more time together. I know I will see you again, but I want to wait another forty years if that is okay with you.
Love your daughter.
Mary
Note: I hope this blog post inspires anybody on the fence about getting their physical or cholesterol checked. I know someone will miss you too as much I miss my dad. Don’t wait until it is too late. I also hope that by writing this blog that I pay it forward and help someone else today. 🙂
Remember the Bible speaks about treating our bodies well so that we can serve God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
New King James Version (NKJV)
19 Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
What a lovely idea for a post, both the letter to your dad and the clever way you have filled it with useful facts about heart disease. As a high colesterol sufferer myself, and daughter to a (thankfully still living) father of 5 heart attacks I really appreciate you taking the time to spread a bit of knowledge that can help us all.
This was a lovely letter to your Dad. And the fact you made it public is inspiring. As you know I love any reason to encourage people to write a letter, but this was extra special. I do hope you get a good health report this week. Take care of that heart of yours.
How appropriate! Thanks for linking up with us! 😀
Oh, Mary, what a sweet post to your dad. I do hope you get a good report from your doctor tomorrow. Keep taking good care of yourself!
Love, Joy
Yesterfood