A few days ago, Dad was transferred to an inpatient physical therapy clinic here in Lincoln. He'll undergo a minimum of three hours of occupational and physical therapy every day, where he'll learn, among other things, to cook, shower and use stairs with his new body. 

There's no telling how long he'll be there--each patient learns at their own pace, but doctors say he's already ahead of the curve. (Remember that whole walking-the-day-after-surgery thing? Go Dad!) As hard as it is to know that my dad has to "live" in a hospital setting for an unknown amount of time, my family and I feel confident he's in the right place. 

Prior to his relocation, my mom and I toured a few different clinics, acting as eyes and ears for my dad. For confidentiality purposes, I wont name where he's at, but I can tell you this facility offers a small, intimate, home-like setting. Each patient has their own room, but communal dining is encouraged. The idea is for patients to build strong relationships with each other, and share in all daily triumphs, not just their own. Mom and I loved that and walked away with really positive vibes. Things only got better the day we checked Dad in.

In addition to 'round-the-clock nursing care, we learned Dad will also get a little help from a new friend. Her name is Maya, and she's the therapy dog who visits the clinic two times each week. Dad has already taken quite a liking to her, and said he's looking forward to seeing her again on Friday.

Dad mentioned to one of the nurses that he's Catholic, and that same day, the clinic priest made a special visit to Dad's room. I love this guy! He explained that he sees his role as someone who guides patients spiritually and mentally. During daily visits, he will offer a blessing, communion, three jokes and a riddle. Laugh all you want. I know it sounds silly, but after he told his jokes and introduced the riddle, we were all so grateful for the humor and mental stimulation. Staring at four walls for hours on end can get really boring, really fast.

And that's not all. I'm back in Maryland now--which means I'm 1,500 miles away. Dad and I have always communicated primarily via phone calls, but for something like this, I decided that isn't good enough. So, Cliff and I got Dad his very own laptop. We've taught him about gmail, youtube, and instant messaging. Most importantly, we taught him how to video chat! It was a lot for him to take in in just 24 hours, but he learned quickly!

All in all, Dad is taking this really well. In fact, I think he's taking this the best out of all of us. As stressful as the process has been, its a relief to know that my dad is upbeat and looking ahead months and years down the road. He's mentioned more than once that he's ready to play a little golf :) I have a feeling Dad's going to be home before we know it!

Before I get into the matters at hand, I must preface this post with a note. I wasn't sure if this blog was the space for a deeply personal story -- a story that isn't exactly my own. After much thought and some debate, I decided to go ahead and tell the world about my dad. For starters, I'm just so flipping proud of him, and I hope readers will be able to share in his triumphs. Second, if my dad's story helps just one person or family going through similar circumstances, then I've done my job.

For those of you who already know what you're about to read, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your love and support. My family and I would not have been able to get through this without you.

About two months ago, my dad experienced abnormal pain in his right foot and opted to have surgery to remove some bone spurs. The procedure went well, and my dad was sent on his way with instructions to not drive, put no weight on his foot and have regular visits with the orthopedic surgeon. 

Things seemed to be going well. The common phrase we heard nearly every week was that "the wound was healing nicely." Well, most of it was. A small section near the bone in his foot just wasn't filling in, but medical professionals didn't seem terribly concerned. They'd seen this kind of thing before.

Turns out, it wasn't normal. My father began experiencing more pain in his foot and developed a low-grade fever that wouldn't go away. One thing led to another and Dad was rushed to the hospital Wednesday afternoon. The bone had become infected and the condition was life-threatening. Early Friday morning, just over 24 hours after being admitted to the hospital, the decision was made to amputate a portion of my dad's leg. 

Terrified, shocked and a little overwhelmed, I rushed home. I had no idea what to expect and no idea what I might find. I quickly learned I had no reason to worry. To my surprise and delight, my dad isn't just doing great -- he's doing awesome! I found him upbeat, alert and determined to get through this. So determined that Saturday morning, the day after having his leg amputated, he walked from the bed in his room to a chair with a little help from a walker and his new physical therapist. It was astonishing. I have never met a stronger, more determined person, and I'm so proud to call this guy Dad!

There are so many people my family and I have to give special thanks to. In no particular order, we express deep and sincere gratitude to:

The nursing staff at St. Elizabeth's Hospital
Dad calls these folks angels of mercy and there is just no other way to describe what they do. Dad has received excellent round-the-clock care from courteous, professional, cheerful nurses, aides and assistants who give 110% every day. You have made this so much easier on all of us, and we cannot thank you enough for what you've done. I have to give a special shout out to Jason, the night nurse. I didn't get a chance to meet Jason, but my parents can't stop talking about "what a cool guy" he is :)

TJ Brooks
This wounded warrior who lost his leg three years ago dropped everything to take an emergency call with my dad the night before dad's surgery. Because of their conversation, my dad went into surgery with calm nerves and strong confidence knowing he had made the right decision. TJ, you'll always be our hero.

Hospital Chaplains
Dad is a devout Catholic and I know it made him feel so much better to go to confession and receive Communion before going into surgery. Thank you for offering peace and love in a place so full of uncertainty.

My coworkers at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
As soon as news came in that Dad was in the hospital, I was told to "do what I need to do" and "don't worry about work." I'm so lucky to work at a fantastic organization with people who are so supportive and kind. You guys rock my socks!

Friends and Family
You know who you are. Words cannot express how much your phone calls, hospital visits and little favors mean to us.

My dad is expected to be transferred to an in-patient physical therapy center on Monday. He'll get fitted for a prosthetic somewhere between 3 and 4 months down the road. Recovery will be a long and potentially difficult process, but I know my dad is going to do great. Of course I will keep you all updated on dad's progress and his triumphs as he enters this new chapter in life.

Note from author 8/11/14: For those just now reading, there are many more updates which can you find here, here, and here.

We met Jen, Jake and Mickey Haselswerdt a few years ago when they moved onto the floor of our apartment building. Jen worked as a theater instructor at Imagination Stage in Bethesda. Jake was studying to get his PhD in political science. And Mickey--well, he's a chef, race-car driver, musician, movie critic and philosopher. 

They quickly became some of our favorite people.

Oh. My. Goodness. I had a great weekend, thanks, in part, to this incredible couple! Erik and Alicia are long-time friends who've been together for 12 years. They decided to tie the knot and asked if I would do their engagement photos. I'm honored!

I'm a big believer in giving credit where credit is due. That's why I'm dedicating this blog post to my high school journalism teacher, Jane Holt. 

She's the person I wrote about when MissHeard Magazine put out a call for women to share their personal stories about positive, female role models. An excerpt of my piece is below:

There was so much I enjoyed about this assignment, from recalling favorite memories to, hopefully, inspiring someone else with the help of MissHeard's mission. The magazine is dedicated to giving teens and young women a positive platform where they can express themselves. I love it, and I'm so glad I could share space with some amazing women who have incredible stories about the people who helped shape them. 

I encourage readers of this blog to check out MissHeard, and even contribute.  Articles published and topics discussed are designed to foster community, dialogue and understanding between girls and women. The magazine focuses on autonomy, empowerment and community and seeks to capture and share the complex and diverse experiences of teens of all backgrounds.

And to Mrs. Holt: Thanks for encouraging your students to be themselves, express who they are and find happiness -- even if it means wearing around cardboard sandwich signs :D  #tbt

p.s. Check out the Lincoln East Oracle, still in publication today!

Cliff and I spent our July 4 holiday in the company of friends and family back in Nebraska. It was so peaceful and quiet.  We ate good food, caught up with loved ones, walked barefoot in the river, and, of course, played with farm kittens. I loved every minute!

I was even able to work in a family photo session with a friend from high school. This is Michael, his wife Lisa, and their daughter, Gabby. Isn't she the cutest?

I'm usually the one behind the camera, which doesn't mean I get my photograph taken often. While I was home, my friend Kristy made me feel like a star! We visited Pioneers Park where we took turns photographing each other. The portraits Kristy took are gorgeous. You can view more here.

I hope this sneak preview leaves you itching for more! I'll be editing photos until my eyeballs bleed. (But hey, that's how I like it!)