Saddest Moment...

I was in the third grade, only 8 years old and it seemed like my life was quickly heading in a downward spiral. I was young and didn't know how to handle things. We all knew it was coming. Every time we saw him, it looked as though his condition was getting worse and worse. His liver was failing and there was absolutely nothing I could do to change that. My father, George Smyth, was slowing dying before my very eyes.
When my brothers and I first noticed that he wasn't himself, we told our mom and step-dad. We rushed him to Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo, CA. We sat in the waiting room for hours upon hours when they finally said that they we going to keep him overnight for further observations.
Days went by and they still were unsure as to why he was so ill. My brothers and I went to visit him in the hospital everyday after school for over two weeks. Then a day came were my mom wasn't feeling so well, so she couldn't take us.
The one day out of all the days that we didn't go to visit my father was the day that he passed. Only, my brothers and I didn't hear of the news until two days later. We were curious as to why our mother couldn't talk to us, let alone look at us. We just figured that maybe she still wasn't feeling well.
Then it was Wednesday, January 23, 2003. This day, my life was completely changed. Before school, my mom sat my brothers and I down on the couch. She was crying. When we was finally able to speak, she looked up at us and said, "I'm sorry kids. I don't know how to tell you this, but your father passed away two days ago from liver failure..." My brothers began to cry, I have never seen them cry so much in my life. I was in shock and I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to just sit there and cry in front of my family, so I ran up to my room, locked the door, sat in my closet and cried. I cried for two days straight. I didn't leave my closet. I ignored everyone. I didn't eat. I couldn't sleep. All I did cry and think about how much I missed my dad. I couldn't imagine living without him. I didn't know what to do. My family and friends helped me get through it all, without them, I honestly don't know where I would be right now. They helped me get through one of the most traumatic moments of my life. To this day, all that happened on January 23, 2003, is as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. The memory of this day will stay with me always.

It has been over seven years since my father has passed away. Yet a day has not gone by where he doesn't cross my mind. He's no longer here on this earth, but the memory of him lives on, in me, in brothers, in the hearts of all those who knew him. Though, I wish I could've done something, anything to save him. I miss him so much.

Rest In Peace, George Anthony Smyth
June 3, 1956 - January 21, 2003