Almost lost my father twice. It taught me to live in the moment.

In a powerful personal reflection, the author recalls a Tuesday when two cars were in the driveway and her father told her he had cancer. He described stage 4 tongue cancer that had spread to the neck’s lymph nodes and began radiation, chemotherapy, and eventually a neck dissection to remove lymph nodes. He continued working while enduring fatigue, and the author faced fear that life could collapse even in bright moments. Treatments saved his life and provided years of memories, including milestones like graduation, but left lasting effects such as high blood pressure, swallowing difficulties, a hoarse voice, and nerve damage in the arm. The author honors her father’s influence and the time they shared, including family moments from apple picking to a grandfatherly role. In April, a feeding tube was placed because swallowing was no longer safe; a subsequent health scare renewed fear of losing him, but he survived. The piece closes with gratitude for time together and the lesson to live in the moment.