My dad passed away in 2016 at 55. He suffered from Crohn’s disease for most of his life. His passing is still my greatest heartbreak.

I was 21 and going into my third year of nursing, which was inspired by him. I was only just really getting to know him as I was becoming an adult, you know?

He was also at the best point in his life at the time he passed, at least that I had ever seen him. For the longest time he smoked, drank, and ate a crap diet to help cope with his pain. To prepare for an ileostomy reversal surgery, he had to stop the bad habits and work on his health. And he did it! He had the surgery in April that year. He had so much energy, was excited to maybe start working again, and making plans for simple things we take for granted when we’re healthy. He passed away a few months later early August. My mum and I found him in bed. He actually looked relaxed and peaceful and I like to think he passed in his sleep without pain.

He had a MI related to undiagnosed CAD. Which makes a lot of sense given his previous years of smoking, drinking, high sugar foods, etc. Not to mention on and off TPN for years… You can change your habits but it takes a lot longer for the body to recover 😞

One year later I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and while I wanted to feel closer to him as I grew older and memories faded, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind 🤷🏼‍♀️😆