[Katrina]

Hey Katie,

First of all, let me just extend an online-hug (which I know isn't much, sometimes) and a listening ear to you. Anytime. This past fall, my mom went through an incident in which her liver began to function very, very improperly. Our doctors also said that she probably wouldn't make it. Yet, five months later, I just got done eating a delicious lunch with my family, cooked by my mom. I say that to say that hope is real, and that people really surprise doctors sometimes. Hope always, always helps.

It almost feels like an out-of-body experience, or at least it did to me, when my mom was going through that. I think numb would be a word I would've used as well. Its going to be difficult, I think, but I think you should take this week and follow your heart in deciding what to do with your dad. I just don't feel like there's enough time, EVER, to be angry at others, especially when we fear losing them. I truly, truly think, from the bottom of my heart, if you have any ounce of desire to forgive him and try to go spend time with him in this week, that you absolutely should.

I wish I knew more of what the right words were, here...or the answers... but I'm just going to once again send many, many positive thoughts your way - of determination, of strength, and of peacefulness. Please take care of yourself.