Bella F., Oakwood High School
Sunday is a Day Longer
The power of being strong and being happy around others is a superpower. I cannot stress this enough. When I saw my dad on the bed, almost unrecognizable, I knew I had to be strong for my family. 3 years ago, I lost my dad to Covid-19, near Christmas. It was a nightmare for my family. We planned that Christmas to be the best one yet. My mom started a higher-paying job, and the presents were more than I had ever seen before. As everything began to go downhill, our elated moods began to be washed away.
I could have handled this in many ways, but I was strong. The hospitals were a different time. It wasn't easy to visit—the 20-minute drive, followed by the need to put on full-on hazmat suits. I visited my dad, then things clicked. I needed to comfort him. I went in there with my dad, covered in tubes, not even the same figure as my dad. I smiled, knowing that the only way I could get through this experience was to stay composed and happy. After all, he is my dad, whom I love and who has been by my side forever. I needed to spend time with him.
Hail Mary full of grace… I could see the pain in my mom's eyes as we prayed. Twenty Rosaries over a week. Time was quick. The last time I spoke with my dad was on New Year's. Our last conversation. I walked in strong and didn’t want to scare my Dad, while faking a smile. I could imagine that he wouldn’t want to see his kid cry. I told him: “Happy New Year.” He told me I was the only person who told him that. He seemed happy to see me, and I was shortly kicked out of the hospital room.
Two days later, he was moved to the ICU. I didn’t see him until my mom called me and my sister: “The doctors just told me he isn’t going to live past Saturday.” Later that day, I saw him covered in double the amount of tubes and asleep on a ventilator. His hands were the size of my head, his skin was turning yellow, and his presence was barely there, but I got to see him.
Sunday, he died. I told my Mom, “He died on a Sunday, he lived one more day.” That was the moment that I believed that if you look at the smallest things, even through hard times or bad times, you will realize how grateful you can be, and it will help you live a happier life. My dad could have died days before, but he stayed strong and pulled through 1 more day, minute, and second. It’s truly important to be happy and strong for those around you. It’s a superpower when you try. I’m glad I tried, because I don’t know when I’ll see him again.
