Things don't always go according to plan...

As many of my closest friends and family already know, my father is the most important man in my life, and he always will be. I am a total daddy's girl, through and through. I am not normally one to delve so deep into my personal life, however, my father is about to wander into a very difficult chapter in his life, and I can't help but branch out to my fans and followers for strength during this difficult time.

My dad has had multiple knee surgeries, stemming from an annoying, and painful, dislocating kneecap, and the story of the draft, comes to my mind... and the commanding officer telling my dad that he had to do a squat in order to be in the service, and my dad telling him that if he did, his kneecap would painfully dislocate. He did the squat, and his military career came to an end as quickly as it began.

Almost two dozen surgeries, on both knees, two total knee replacements on the right, and decades of chronic knee pain in both, my father has come to the very difficult decision to have his right leg amputated above the knee. For the once sailor/drummer/fixer of everything, the choice to amputate was not an easy decision.

The photography business that I have worked so hard to create, would have never been possible if it wasn't for my father. His business sense, financial planning background, and not to mention monetary assistance, are every reason why I am grateful enough to be able to do what I do! Not to mention, the photos I have of my family are some of my most cherished possessions, and flood my home with wonderful memories of life before the pain took over. Those photographic memories, that flood my walls, are all that we have now of the life before the pain took over.

I see this amputation as a wonderful new chapter in my fathers life. I hope that with some of the newest medical advancements, not only will my dad comfortably walk again, but I am hoping he will be able to play the drums again, or even man his own sailboat one day.

I want to share a few of my favorite photographs of him and I, over the past few years, to remind everyone that life is a gift. What seems so picture perfect on the outside may be filled with relentless pain on the inside. Cherish every moment! Please wish my father a smooth surgery tomorrow, and a speedy recovery. As my dad would sarcastically say, "Roger Ramjet out!" :)