Honoring My Late Father

(Daddy at his Doctoral Commencement at Columbia University in the ’70s.)

This Father’s Day I honor all fathers. I especially honor my father who devoted his life to the sciences and to his family. He toiled endlessly until the very last minute working until he couldn’t anymore all to ensure his wife and daughters could get by without him. Not a day goes by that I don’t wonder how much better life would have been if he could have lived to see his girls all grown up. 💔

His battle with Crohn’s and later colorectal cancer may have taken his life but he has become my inspiration to fight incessantly for my own survival.

I repeat what I said in my Honored Hero speech: “Daddy, wherever you are, I hope I have made you proud. I will NOT let our suffering go in vain. I have EVERY intention of putting Crohn’s and colitis on the map and de-stigmatizing bowel disease and life-saving ostomy surgery for all of us who suffer in shame and in silence.” ✨

These diseases take lives and they rob families like mine of their happiness and innocence. I will not stop building awareness and acceptance until a cure is found.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy. May your soul always rest in peace 💟🙏

P.S. This post would not be complete without wishing my brave mother a happy father’s day for raising us singlehandedly. Here’s to all the fierce AF single mamas!