Today is a very special day for my family. One year ago today, my Dad was in extreme pain and had bleeding in his brain, we weren't sure if he would make it. It was the longest day of our lives. As the day continued he started to dwindle. My Grandpa O'Malley asked for Father Diego from St. Thomas Aquinas to make a visit to UW Hospital and Anoint him at his bedside. We prayed around my Dad while we waited for different procedures to start working. By the late evening nothing had changed and that's when we were told that he'd be taken in for an emergency craniotomy. The next 3 hours during surgery were incredibly difficult. I remember during surgery we had to run home and let Kirby out and it helped to pass the time. I heard the song on the radio - I'll be home for Christmas - and I wept. I didn't know if my Dad would ever be home for Christmas...not last year...or any year in the future. My Dad is an incredible man. He's a stubborn Irish man that fought through life when all the odds were against him. We spent 6 weeks at his bedside in the UW Neuro ICU. Then 2 more weeks at his bedside at the inpatient rehab facility at UW. Then on Friday, February 10th he was blessed with a beautiful Granddaughter. On the day Harper was born it was the first day he had left the hospital since everything began on December 16th. At that time he was transferred to Attic Angels in Madison and spent an additional 2 weeks there. It was the longest 10 weeks of our lives but we surrounded him with love, encouragement, and faith.
He continues to amaze me everyday. I am so lucky to have my Dad in my life. You never know how precious life is until someone you love dearly is almost taken away. We are so incredibly blessed.
I love you Dad!
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