My Dad has had MS since a year after my birth, about 30 years. He has non-remitting chronic MS, and is paralyzed on his right side from the neck down. Bedridden, for the most part.

But, my Dad is the same person he was before this, no matter how bad it has gotten, how many dozens of meds he has to take, no matter how bad the pain is. He's funny, political, a sports and music junkie, and a great Dad. He used to manage a country club, and worked with my Mom in the hospital, where they met in the early 70s. And now my Mom is sick too, with an undiagnosed neurological problem that has robbed her of her ability to speak, control of her facial muscles, and other issues. And my Father, the man who has been taken care of by her for so many years, has stepped up to be the emotional rock for all of us. No matter how sick my Mom is, or if she's in brain surgery, or at yet another neurologist's appt., he's there for us, despite his own personal terror of losing her.

He's been there, where she is now, he knows the pain, the frustration, and the helplessness. I hope that he's teaching her to handle it all with the grace that he has for all of these years.

Happy Father's Day Daddy...and Momma too.