Daddy's Girl

I have always been a daddy's girl. When I was born, first girl after two boys, my mom took over most of the work at my parents' boutique and my dad stayed home with me for the first two years of my life. He changed my diapers, he took me to the playground, read me bedtime stories and he taught me all of my favorite cursewords. When I was five years old, we moved from Holland to Belgium. After getting settled, my dad started going back to Holland regularly to set up his practice in Amsterdam. At first he was gone for two days a week, in the end he was gone 3 weeks, home one week. I was eight years old and I missed my daddy every single day.

He wasn't the easiest father to say the least, but we always kept that special connection: when my brothers rebelled, my dad put them in their place. When I had a big mouth (and let me tell you, that was basically my default mode), my dad could never stay angry with me for long. Our dentist even said we had the same type of teeth.

Four years ago, my parents split up and my dad had a severe stroke. He slipped in and out of consciousness for days, lost the ability to word his thoughts and his right side was paralyzed. It was touch and go for a while there, but his incredible strength kept him alive and allowed him to make an incredible recovery: a year later, the only things wrong with my dad were a loss of sensitivity in his right side (he'd take hot trays out of the oven with his right hand because he didn't feel pain anyway) and him not being as quick with words as before. Doctors couldn't believe how horrible his stroke had been.

This morning, I got a phonecall from his new fiancé to tell me he had suffered another stroke. She quickly calmed my nerves by assuring me it wasn't as bad as the last time, but his right side was paralyzed again and he could only mutter a "no" or "yes" to clearly formulated questions. I have spent most of my day at my father's side, deeply feeling the father-daughter loving bond we share. 

Right now I am extremely tired from worrying all day, but I can't give up hope of him recovering as well as he did last time. Hang in there, daddy.


I'll never be too old to sit on my dad's lap.

50 comments

  1. I'm so sorry Annebeth. The thought of anything happening to my dad terrifies me. I'm not religious so I won't offer to pray, but you and your dad are absolutely in my thoughts and I wish him a speedy and full recovery. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh Annebeth, superveel sterkte gewenst! Ik hoop dat je papa snel herstelt. Veel liefs!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Aaw, the photos are wonderful. Best of Luck to your Father - I really hope he makes a full recovery. Big love to you and all your family, Kerry (Yours Truly) x

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're the best daughter he could wish for all this time. I wish you both a lot of luck and him a full recovery.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so sorry to hear this, Annebeth. {hugs} My youngest sister had a severe seizure actually a year ago today, and lost everything in her right side, and some of her left, couldn't remember us, and the amount of damage was the same as that of an extreme stroke. She is completely recovered now, although she has epilepsy. Anyway, I can completely relate to where you are right now...the waiting, worrying, and wondering. Your dad is in my thoughts and prayers! Keep us updated on how he's doing. Wishing him a fast, full recovery.

    xo
    Maria Elyse

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh no!! I hope he recovers soon! I'm not terribly close with my father, we aren't really a lovey dovey family in that way. But he knows I love him [even though I don't say it XD] and I don't know what I would do if something happens to him. I know exactly how you feel! *hugs* But I'm sure everything will be fine.

    ReplyDelete
  7. awwh Annebeth, I hope you're okay. I'm a Daddy's girl too- I still sit on his knee- so I can't imagine how painful this is for you.
    I hope he gets better soon.

    Charlotte x

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't believe in prayer either, but I do kind of believe in the power of positive energy and thoughts, and I am most certainly sending them your way. I'm really sorry to hear this and hope you can continue to be by his side to help in a fast recover.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Please don't lose hope, Annebeth! Though I can't imagine what you're going through but I live in NYC while my dad lives clear across the country on the western coast and I constantly worry about him everyday, especially without my mom's companionship. I hope a miracle happens, and since I'm christian, I will keep your dad in my prayers :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh Annebeth! So sorry to hear this. I'm thinking of you and your dad...best wishes for him and another speedy recovery! Glad you're able to be there with him for this. <3

    ReplyDelete
  11. Heel veel sterkte, Annebeth! Ik hoop met je mee.

    ReplyDelete
  12. i'm so sorry to hear that. i'm a total daddy's girl and i can't imagine how i'd feel if anything happened to him. you & your dad are in my thoughts. i hope he has a speedy recovery.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hoop dat hij inderdaad zo goed herstelt als de vorige keer, so sad to read this :( veel sterkte alvast xxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. oh im so sorry annebeth that your going though this. I can't imagine how your feeling right now. I'll be thinking of you both and hope your dad makes a full recovery and soon. x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sterkte Annebeth! Hopelijk herstelt hij snel. Mooie foto van jou en je papa! X

    ReplyDelete
  16. You and your dad are in my thoughts and I'm sending good vibes your way as hard as I can.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I reeaaally hope your dad recovers well. Strokes are complex but I've seen some major improvements from people that had a stroke - my mom worked in physiotherapy. So hold on the hope and keep up the good vibes for him!

    ReplyDelete
  18. You guys sounds like an amazing team, you look alike! I hope all is well my dear and pray he makes a speedy recovery!

    ReplyDelete
  19. My thoughts are with you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  20. big hugs honey, my thoughts are with you and your family. stay strong for your dad xo

    ReplyDelete
  21. Aww dear I'm glad to hear it wasn't as bad but I really hope he is able to make a full recovery, he sounds like an amazing man and father. I am definitely a daddy's girl too and just thinking about this makes me tear up. Stay strong and positive for him!
    xJennaD

    ReplyDelete
  22. OMG i am so sorry to hear this girl! ik hoop echt dat alles in orde komt! de laatste foto van jullie twee is ongelooflijk! je straalt gewoon en ik hou van het karakter dat je vader uitstraalt! ik hoop echt echt het allerbeste lieve meid!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Djeez, Annebeth, wat erg! Hang in there, girl! Ik denk aan jullie!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Veel sterkte! Geniet maar van elk moment met je vader!Dat kan soms ongelofelijk veel deugd doen!
    x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ooh wat erg om te horen, heel veel sterkte en ik wens je vader een snel herstel toe. x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Veel sterkte meid! Hopelijk is je vader snel terug de oude XX

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm sorry Annebeth, I hope he recovers okay. A big hug to you xx

    ReplyDelete
  28. Mooie post meid. Hopelijk komt alles in orde met je papa.. We denken aan jullie ! x

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ik hoop dat alles goed komt voor je! Het lijkt me fantastisch om zo'n goede band met je vader te hebben en de foto's zijn echt heel mooi. Ik zal heeeel hard aan u en uw papa denken!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Seems like we share more than I thought.
    I'm a total daddy's girl too, and my parents also split up 4 years ago.
    I only see my father once a week, and I wish we could spend more time together.
    I already cringe at the thought that something would happen to him, because he's like a tall, 2 meters muscled guy and that's the way I've always known him and still know him today.

    I can't imagine what you must be going through.
    Sending loads of positive energy and love!
    I pray your dad will recover asap!

    x Krizia

    ReplyDelete
  31. My thoughts are with you, *big hug* you look so alike in that last picture :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm sorry to hear about your daddy!!! That is such scary news to get. I'm keeping him in my thoughts for you and your family and I hope he gets to come home soon. I'm sending you a hug as well (((( ))))

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh no :( I'm so sorry to hear that *hug* I'm an only child, and I'm daddy's little girl too. My father has very serious health issues and I've done my share of bedside vigils, so I know how you feel. My thoughts are with you and yours and I hope for good recovery!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Heel veel sterkte meid! Je papa komt er wel door, zoals je hem beschrijft is het een vechter. Het komt allemaal goed, dikke dikke knuffel!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Annebeth, this post is so beautiful and touching. I hope your father recovers well. The pictures of you and your father made me think about my dad, and how much I love him. Don't stop sending your positive thoughts & hope out there for him. I will do the same.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I hope your father recovers soon and is back to his form soon enough. I'm a daddy's girl too and I can completely empathise with the fear and worry that you feel. My prayers are with him. xx

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he makes a quick and full recovery.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Wat een naar en moeilijk moment voor jullie... Veel sterkte!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hm, wat een creepy gedachte dat zoiets bij je papa gebeurt. Ik mag er niet aan denken.. Ik wens jullie twee (en de rest van de familie uiteraard) veel sterkte en ik hoop dat alles snel goed komt!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wat vreselijk nieuws!! Ik denk aan jullie en hoop dat alles snel mag beteren!!
    Knuffel xxx

    ReplyDelete
  41. I hope everything ends up okay -- my thoughts and wishes are with you. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

    ReplyDelete
  42. That's really sweet that you're so close to your dad like that. Strokes are awful. My oldest brother had one nearly 3 years ago now (and he is in his 30s!) and they are scary with how you see people not able to talk and having their face all melty looking and such. I pray that your father will be able to get through this and never receive another stroke again. May you feel at ease through all of this. May his fiance also feel peace, as well as your siblings.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I'm sorry to hear about your dad and I hope he gets better soon. Keep smiling! He needs you to.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Veel sterkte...! Hopelijk is je papa snel beter X

    ReplyDelete
  45. The second picture is so sweet. It made me cry, you look so happy and he's so proud!
    Hoping he recovers very fast.

    x Jonas

    ReplyDelete
  46. I can't imagine what you are going through, hope he's going to be okay.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Oh Annebeth, I am so sorry to hear this. Your dad sounds like an amazing, strong person and I wish him a speedy recovery. I hope you are ok, big blogger hugs coming your way! My Grandad has had two strokes and it's horrible. Best wishes hun xxx

    ReplyDelete
  48. Wow what a lovely last picture. You look so much like him! You both have these really kind and expressive eyes! That's a wonderful gift to resemble a parent :) I recall that you mentioned in a recent post your concerns about your blog ratings and whether people appreciate your content. As a relatively recent follower, I can say that I really enjoy your entries! You range from silly, to contemplative and serious to FOOD PORN! LOL This is great because you are reflecting the various parts of yourself and like you mentioned, I also enjoy blogs that have regular original content. Today's post is totally reflective of this. I appreciate your honesty and thank you for sharing something so personal. Wishing you and your family the best!

    ReplyDelete
  49. thanks for this awesome feedback, too bad I didn't read it earlier! I hope you stumble across my thankfulness here, you are awesome and I'm glad people enjoy my blog!

    ReplyDelete