1632 U Street Northwest
Washington, DC, 20009
(202) 483-8600
Tawny Chatmon
Personal journal entries written by Tawny Chatmon her father James’ cancer treatment.
Written by Tawny on 2.3.2010:
The past week has been like hell for me. The one thing in life that scares me the most, I am having to deal with. One of my parents being sick. Not only sick but sick with Cancer, and since we found out my dad has prostate cancer, my mom seems "sick" as well. Her illness has nothing to do with her health, but her heart.
I am starting to realize how much of a great influence my dad has been to me and others. I always knew he was an awesome father, husband, uncle, and grandfather, but I'm just now realizing how much he actually means to me. All of my life he's been going out of his way to teach us lessons. Some of them I listened to closely and others I would roll my eyes thinking "Here he goes trying to make a point again". Everything he does for us has a lesson attached to it and I appreciate it so much now! I realize everything he has shown me helps me to push and push and push to get where I want to be. Of course, he and I don't see eye to eye on a number of things and he's not always right (just 95% of the time). Everything that he has taught me, I strive to teach my babies and in fact, I do without even knowing it.
The main thing he has taught me is to dust yourself off and try again, no matter what. He's been through so many things health and life-wise and has always dusted himself off and tried again. Just like I know he will do this time.
This test of our strength has shown me how much I love my father. I miss him when I'm not around him,I want to hug him every second, kiss his forehead, lay on his arm, talk to him, etc., and will never roll my eyes while he's talking again! I promise.
Written by Tawny 9.24.2010:
For some reason every morning I wake up, all I can think of is what I'm going to do next to help my Dad. I am positive that my sister Mecia has that same feeling because my phone rings every morning between 7 am & 7:40 am. I remember him being in the hospital and his face would LIGHT UP when someone came to visit him. He's always been a "people person". It's so much better with my father here with us. I am overjoyed that my parents actually live with us! At this moment I should actually be doing work but again, I find myself feeling like a lot of my day should be dedicated to my dad. Not out of obligation, but out of pure love for him.
Written by Tawny 11.05.2010:
I got to hug him twice today.
Written by Tawny on 12.01.2010:
The greatest gift I have ever been given came from God; I call him Dad!
~Author Unknown
Written by Tawny 12.03.2010:
Art is Therapy
Lately, my Dad has been drawing as a form of therapy. This wasn't prescribed by a doctor or suggested by a counselor, it was just something he felt called to do. He's never thought of himself as an artist or even drawn anything as a hobby but I'd say he's doing magnificent for him to have only been practicing for 3-4 weeks :)
Written by Tawny from a conversation with her father 12.07.2010:
Me: "What would you like for Christmas, Daddy?"
Him: "To be healed"