Introduction

When someone you love is diagnosed with a terminal disease, your life changes. I know more about small cell lung cancer, brain surgery, chemo therapy, radiation, pain, heartache, 4:30am phone calls from the ICU, the best remedies to reduce swollen eyes, clinical trials, FMLA, the 4th floor at Group Health, tough decision making and inner strength then a 28 year old should. I didn't choose this, it chose me. Well, it chose my Dad and I am sitting in the passenger seat with one hand on the steering wheel.

We were recently told that my Dad has months to live. The cancer has metastasized to his bones and he has multiple, new pulmonary tumors. I want to believe that he will have years, that he will see me get married someday and play with his grandchildren, that I can buy him a red velvet cupcake for his next birthday, that he will be there to celebrate my accomplishments and help me learn from my failures, that we don't have to cram his bucket list into a 6 month time frame.

What I want to believe and what I know are entirely different.  I know that time with my Dad is severely limited. I hate his cancer, but I love him. Pending approval, I am taking a leave of absence. During this time, I plan on making memories. When he has taken his last breathe, I will look back at this blog and smile, even if tears are cascading down my face.

With that being said, welcome to A Recipe for Lemonade. I look forward to sharing the ingredients with you.