“Watching my dad become ill and die in a very short period of time was the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. Strangely, it was also one of the biggest periods of personal growth in my life. Prior to his death, I always had someone taking care of me. I never saw myself as strong or independent. His passing put me in a position where I had to make decisions, hard ones. I learned to be strong. I learned to be independent. I learned to trust myself. His death facilitated my re-birth, both the worst and the best day of my life.”