March 26th

On March 26, 1987, my dad and I were waiting in the Indianapolis airport for my Spring Break flight to Tampa to see my sister and nephew; when he collapsed from what I thought was a heart attack, a wonderful couple started CPR. Two days later, after 48 pints of blood, he died from an aortic aneurysm. I never had a chance to thank the couple or to repay all 48 pints of blood. Every time we have a blood drive at school, I ask my kids to help me repay the blood. Wish I could have thanked the couple, too. I've always felt like the couple never knew the outcome OR how grateful our entire family was for their efforts. I still tell the classes learning CPR what a difference it can make.

Sharon pointed out that our mom used to say that we didn't marry because we could never find someone as wonderful as our dad - and she was right. All three of us were daddy's girls. I think Bryan knows that feeling with his girls. It's a special bond.