Pulsate Olympics - My father's broken heart

At Thordora's request, I'm submitting an entry into a contest sponsored by GNMParents. I humbly submit as requested...


I used to bowl with my husband once a week in a league. We spent every Tuesday night from 6:30pm to 9pm being a couple, and not parents. When those evenings ended, we gathered up our children and brought them home to tuck them snugly and safely in their beds.

On Tuesday, January 11th 2005, we did just that. Brought our kids home, kissed them good night, and tucked them in bed. That night during our kisses and tucks, we were interrupted by a phone call. My husband answered and then quickly passed the phone to me, where I was informed that my father had just died. I told the caller I would return their call in a few minutes, hung up the phone and returned to my children to finish my goodnights.

When I returned the phone call, I found out that my father, a long haul truck driver, had been riding with his driving partner in Tennessee, when he began feeling uncomfortable with minor chest pain. He quickly went from minor chest pain to complete heart failure. He suffered a major heart attack and was dead within a few minutes. The driver had pulled off the road on an exit to assist him. The exit just happened to be the exit for a medical center. Even though paramedics were there within minutes, there was no helping him. My father was 48 yrs old, with no history of heart problems, and in generally good health.

As I struggled to contact my family members, and make arrangements for the drive to his hometown (about 4 hours from mine), I knew I would have to approach my 3 year old son with the news. I had no idea how to bring this topic up with him, considering how much he loved his grandfather. We decided the best route was to tell him straight out…his grandfather was gone, wouldn’t be able to play with him or see him anymore, because his heart was broken and they couldn’t fix it.

I miss you Dad. My boys miss you. I’m sorry for all the things you won’t get to see. I’m sorry my children can’t come to stay with you over the summers, like you wanted. I’m sorry you never got to meet your granddaughter. My son talks about you almost daily still, even two years later.

And just so you know, my heart is broken too, and no one has been able to fix it either.