Cancer, my dad and I

When I heard the word CANCER for the first time, I remember I was so positive, and deep in my heart I knew my family could beat it. The second time I heard I knew immediately how it was going to end.

After I nice trip to Cancun, Mexico, after my college graduation. My aunt, my dad's little sister, calls me during work. She tells me that my dad is sick and I have to call him. I run to the bathroom and call my dad. He is crying on the phone and tells me he has CANCER.

This is the second time that happens in my family. But, this time I feel different I feel like I lose the battle already.

I talk to my mom and she starts crying as well, she says that it is not fair, that even though they divorced a long time ago, they kept a nice relationship for us.

My mom and dad are my best friends, they do everything to make me happy. During my life, I have spent more time with my mom than my dad, because of the divorce and also because I moved to the US.

In my mind, I had the idea that someday, some moment in my life, I would have the chance to be with my old man. Just him and I, on an adventure. Instead, I have to fly to my country to a battle that I knew I have low chances according to the doctors.

The way I see CANCER is when you have a big achievement to conquer, either you lose and question your whole life and existence or you win and live each day intensively, like the last one.

The battle is not one for the person that has got the illness but for the whole family. Everyone has deal with it in different ways, there is no right method of how handle the situations that come up as a result of the sickness.

During that week I am very afflicted and worry about everything that I am going to face. I have no money to buy airplane tickets so I take a personal loan. All the money I had I spent it during my vacation in Mexico, so I have to take a loan. To me it does not matter as long I see my father at least for the last time.

I buy the tickets it says " New York to Lima, Peru" and "Lima, Peru to La Paz, Bolivia" my heart is beating so fast because I do not know how I am going to explain my dad that everything is going to be fine, when he wants to live more than ever.

Once in Lima, I am waiting for the call to take the next flight to my city La Paz, Bolvia, my dad texts me through Whatsapp. In the text my dad says "thank you for making the effort of coming here." I do not want to cry my holding my tears I reply " You are my dad , you do not need to thank me, I will be there soon." The flight for some reason felt so long, if it is 15 hours long already it feels like two days.

It is time to take the flight my body is so numb and cold at the same time. I know that my dad, CANCER, my complicated family, doctors, security, priests, and my past are waiting for me to arrive. I hear the call and I am ready to board the plane to fight the battle.