I Miss Dad

I miss my dad.  He was one of my primary caregivers.  I miss him brushing my teeth, ranging my arms, and giving me dinner.  But most of all I miss hanging out with him all day.  We would always go do stuff outside together.  I miss watching him mow the field, clear the brush, weed whack the grass and berry bushes. fix everything, maintain the property, water the lawn and bushes and trees, disk the garden, etc.  I miss watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! with him every night.  I miss watching our TV series DVDs at eight o'clock every night.  Leave It to Beaver, Little House on the Prairie, Touched by an Angel, Walker Texas Ranger, Knight Rider, Highway to Heaven, $6 Million Man, Bionic Woman, Dukes of Hazzard, Incredible Hulk, Wagon Train... to name a few. College football season will be difficult this year.  I will miss watching college football games with him.

I just came across this picture of me and Dad from 2015:

This morning I came across this comment from Dad on my blog.  It made me cry.

Dad said...

Tammy you are such an amazing person, and one of, if not the toughest person that I have ever met. What else should I expect from someone that started walking on their own at 7 Months. We are so proud of you, and love you so much. Each day you seem to be getting better, so all of those prayers are working. Love you sweetie! Love, Dad

June 28, 2015 at 1:59 PM

This was written shortly after my intramedullary nail surgery on my femur.

Just before Dad went into the hospital for the second and last time, he and I were home alone.  He told me how tough we both were.  He certainly was.  He was out clearing tall grass and berry bushes with our big weed whacker with the metal blade while on his deathbed.  Just days before he was hospitalized. Perhaps a little bit of his tenacity was passed down to me.

I was always told that I look like my dad.  I think you can see the resemblance in that picture.

I will always remember the last outing I had with Dad. It was just me and him that day because Mom had another appointment. It was in May.  Dad took me to my doctor's appointment.  Then afterwards I had to go get an x-ray a couple of blocks away.  That was a bit of a fiasco being confined to a wheelchair. But Dad helped me get my wheelchair positioned right for them to x-ray my femur.  Despite being two months from death himself.  Then we went over to the Kubota tractor store to look at lawnmowers.  Me in a wheelchair and Dad with a cane.  Out wandering the yard looking at tractors and lawnmowers. We ended up purchasing an amazing zero turn Kubota lawnmower.  Little did we know that Dad would only be able to use it a couple times before he died.  I wish we would have purchased it years ago so he could have enjoyed it.

I'm thankful for that last outing with Dad.  And I'm thankful for the years I had with Dad and all of the things we were able to do together over the past 17 years.  I miss my dad.

Wookatah wookatah.

That's my two cents.

Some pictures of me with my daddy through the years:

  

My last picture with Dad

75th Anniversary

Today would have been my maternal grandparents' 75th wedding anniversary.  They were married in the Logan Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 10, 1944.

  

Happy 75th Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa Sabin!

RIP Doctor Scherer

I got an e-mail a few days ago from my medical school alma mater. The subject line read Paul R. Scherer, DPM Biomechanics Seminar.  So I immediately thought that Doctor Scherer was hosting the seminar.  I knew Doctor Scherer quite well during my training years at CCPM.  He not only lectured on biomechanics as a professor but also was a top clinician in biomechanics.  I really liked Doctor Scherer.

So imagine my surprise when the word Memorial popped up.  Paul R.Scherer Memorial Biomechanics Seminar. What?!  He's dead?  I was shocked.  I guess I shouldn't have been.  I figured he was about my parents' age.  And my dad just died.

Come to find out through reading the obituary, he died 10 days after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Back in October 2018. He was 72 years old.

Doctor Scherer was always nice to me.  He owned his own orthotics lab.  I remember taking a tour of  it one time.  He was one of my favorites at CCPM.

In fact, Doctor Scherer was the clinician leading the Special Problems Clinic when I was donned Doctor Barbie.  When the lady told her daughter to walk towards the doctor that looks like Barbie so that we could watch her gait, Doctor Scherer is the one who said, "We just call her Doctor Barbie around here."  So, Doctor Scherer is responsible for my nickname.

Doctor Scherer was one of, if not, the top biomechanics experts in the world.  Even though he was one of the best in his field he was never arrogant.  He was down to earth and personable.  I remember him saying one time during lecture that when we graduate we will all have the same title behind our names.  He was an excellent clinician and teacher.

RIP Doctor Scherer!

That's my two cents.

Dad's Final Lap

Dad took his final lap around the track during the funeral procession on the way to the cemetery.  Thanks to a wonderful neighbor who has connections to the high school and got us permission to use  the track.

Dad went out in style.  Like a big shot even.  We splurged and paid the extra $700 for a police escort during the funeral procession.  After leaving the church after the funeral, the police escort led us to Graham Kapowsin High School where the hearse took Dad around the track for his final lap.  Then the procession continued on to the cemetery with full police escort.  It was awesome.

I can't help but think that Dad was running alongside the hearse.  Actually, he probably lapped it a few times. :-)

Going around the first turn.

Coming down the home stretch.

Kicking it in at the end.

Of course, Dad is atop the podium.

Dad won many races in his lifetime.

Dad just finished the biggest race of his life.  Like I said in my talk,  I'm sure when Dad crossed the finish line and met the Lord on the other side of the veil he was greeted with open arms.  I'm sure the Lord welcomed him home saying,“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21)

Dad was always a fierce competitor.  He was an endurance athlete who endured it well to the end.

Dad went out in style, like a big shot!

That's my two cents.