When Life Throws You A Curveball

Back in late April, life changed for our family in a way we never expected. After months of trying to figure out why his white blood cell count was low, and after medication failed to make a difference, my dad went in for an appointment the Friday before April vacation. That’s when we learned the news: Leukemia.

It was a gut punch.

My parents had already planned a Disney trip for Colton and Calynn. After the diagnosis, Tara and I made the decision that the whole family should go. We wanted to make those memories while Dad was still feeling good, and I’m so grateful we did. That trip became more than just a vacation. It was a pause, a deep breath, a time to be together before everything changed.

Once we returned, the real journey began. Trips to Dana-Farber in Boston. The first round of chemo. Then complications, his ankle became swollen and painful. It became clear he needed a safer, easier space, so we invited him to stay with us. Single-floor living, family close by, it just made sense. And truthfully, we all needed each other.

Cancer sucks. There’s no sugarcoating it. My family knows it too well. We recently lost my sister-in-law and one of my closest friends to this disease, so the emotions have been raw and real. Grief doesn’t wait for you to be ready, it just shows up, uninvited, and stays for a while.

But my dad, he’s tough. He’s facing chemo with strength, courage, and even humor. He jokes with the kids, cracks one-liners with the nurses, and refuses to let the weight of his diagnosis steal his spirit. He’s been in good spirits, finding joy where he can, especially in time spent with his grandchildren. He’s been teaching them how to cook, sitting outside with us, enjoying the fresh air, the warm weather, and the simple, quiet moments that matter more than ever.

For me, it’s been a whirlwind. I had to hit pause on some college teaching opportunities so I could be there, driving Dad into Boston, helping my parents navigate this new normal, and doing what I can to keep things moving at home. There have been hard days, but also deeply meaningful ones. We’re closer now. We’re making it work.

And through all of this, I’ve found myself thinking more deeply about my own life, about purpose, about direction. I keep wondering: Am I living up to my full potential? I don’t know the answer, but I feel like there’s more in me. More to give. More I’m meant to do. I just don’t know where to start.

Sometimes life slows you down so you can really see what matters. That’s what this season has done for me. It’s forced me to sit with the quiet questions I usually avoid: What do I want to leave behind? What do I want my kids to see when they look at me? Am I choosing the things that truly matter, or just staying busy?

This season of life has been a test, of patience, of faith, of love. It’s stretched us and softened us all at once. And it’s also been a wake-up call. I’m doing my best to keep a level head and believe that we’ve been given this challenge because we can handle it. Maybe, in the process, I’ll figure out where that “more” is meant to lead me.

We don’t have all the answers right now. But we have each other. And for today, that’s enough.

Together, we move forward.