A daughter chronicles her father's recurring cancer battles in 7 powerful drabbles. Follow her emotional journey from childhood to adulthood as she grapples with love and uncertainty.
Your words today remind me of a memoir I just read by Genevieve Kingston called "Did I Ever Tell You?" It's about her mother's cancer diagnosis when the author was only 3 and the long, long road of remission and re-emergence until she was almost 12, I think.
Like what you wrote today, it's a gripping testament of love and loss.
This is so beautiful Tiffany. I love how you capture the childhood years particularly, simple words conveying the simple thoughts of those times, yet holding the weight of what you’ve been through. Thank you for sharing so vulnerably.
Tiffany, this is so beautifully-written! You capture the up and down, touch and go struggle of the cancer journey with remarkable poignance and insight. Each little vignette takes us on this incredibly moving journey with you. Also I relate so much to your compulsive need to be the “strong one” for your family! It’s a tough burden to carry. Thank you for sharing this piece. It’s truly inspiring - both personally and creatively 💛
Tiffany, thank you. This was incredibly hard to read because it touches the deepest parts of all of our ache and fear surrounding loss. Being near death brings something different to life that our culture tends to hide from a lot of us. Your words allow a doorway for that something-different to enter in and touch us in this world. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing these moments. I was just remembering my Dad’s passing 10 years ago…
I also have a memory being fed an orange piece by piece by piece, I think age 4. Not fevered, I was frozen in a cabin before the fire was built the we had snowshoed in to. Being cold under blankets and the scent of that orange are such visceral memories.
I love you Tiffany and your beautiful, heartbreaking writing! I’m reading you in Colombia with tears in my eyes. You remind me how precious life and love is.
Aw Imola, thank you so much. Life is so precious, and death taught me to treasure my loved ones. (Is it bad I'm proud of myself for bringing you to tears?)
Simply beautiful, thank you for sharing and making me sad, I guess that's what we sign up for here in notes from the town hermit 😭 💚✨
Thank you. It's my pleasure. For my non-sad writing, please see https://tiffanychu.substack.com/p/the-misadventures-of-endora-pan ✌🏻
Tiffany,
Your words today remind me of a memoir I just read by Genevieve Kingston called "Did I Ever Tell You?" It's about her mother's cancer diagnosis when the author was only 3 and the long, long road of remission and re-emergence until she was almost 12, I think.
Like what you wrote today, it's a gripping testament of love and loss.
I'll have to look up that book. It sounds like it's one I need to read. Thank you, Jeannie.
Thank you for the shoutout.
This is so beautiful Tiffany. I love how you capture the childhood years particularly, simple words conveying the simple thoughts of those times, yet holding the weight of what you’ve been through. Thank you for sharing so vulnerably.
I so appreciate you, Holly. It's a life-long journey, for sure. Thank you.
Tiffany this was heartachingly beautiful. I had a lump in my throat the entire time. You captured time so beautifully here ♥️♥️
Thank you, Mesa. I'm glad I was managed to evoke emotions from this!
Tiffany, this is so beautifully-written! You capture the up and down, touch and go struggle of the cancer journey with remarkable poignance and insight. Each little vignette takes us on this incredibly moving journey with you. Also I relate so much to your compulsive need to be the “strong one” for your family! It’s a tough burden to carry. Thank you for sharing this piece. It’s truly inspiring - both personally and creatively 💛
Thank you, Ruhie. I knew you'd understand this!
What a beautiful reflection on your relationship with your father’s illness.
Thank you, Barb.
Tiffany, thank you. This was incredibly hard to read because it touches the deepest parts of all of our ache and fear surrounding loss. Being near death brings something different to life that our culture tends to hide from a lot of us. Your words allow a doorway for that something-different to enter in and touch us in this world. Thank you.
Death does shift our perspectives in ways we neither expect or desire. It's such an intimate part of life, though. I'm grateful for your comment, Zoe.
Beautiful writing as always, Tiffany. You’ve described a truly special relationship and journey of strength and courage.
Thank you, Heidi. I suppose we never outgrow the need for our parents.
Thank you for sharing these moments. I was just remembering my Dad’s passing 10 years ago…
I also have a memory being fed an orange piece by piece by piece, I think age 4. Not fevered, I was frozen in a cabin before the fire was built the we had snowshoed in to. Being cold under blankets and the scent of that orange are such visceral memories.
Oh, thank you for sharing such a precious memory, Quinn. It's strange how we remember the most random things sometimes.
Loved this essay.
Thank you, Kristina.
I love you Tiffany and your beautiful, heartbreaking writing! I’m reading you in Colombia with tears in my eyes. You remind me how precious life and love is.
Aw Imola, thank you so much. Life is so precious, and death taught me to treasure my loved ones. (Is it bad I'm proud of myself for bringing you to tears?)
No, no, bringing me to tears is the best! Xox
This was beautiful. I hope that whenever you and your father are parted, you part without regret. It sounds like that will be the case.
This is so beautiful and moving, Tiffany!