2026 – Michelle Short – Jordan highschool HS

The unspeakable word: Cancer

When I was younger I used to think my dad was invincible. I would wake up every

morning knowing that he would always be there to protect me from anything that comes my way.

He taught me how to be brave as a bear, kind as a bug, passionate as a tiger. He told me “You

shine so bright my sunflower, you radiate sunshine and love.” My dad was invincible. He was

my superhero, saving everyone one by one. Educating people lives little by little. He taught me how to be who I am today, I wish I could thank him for it.

Cancer: a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of

abnormal cells that have the potential to invade and destroy healthy tissues and organs.

Cancer. The cause of fighting in the kitchen when the kids are asleep. Cancer. The kryptonite

my dad got October 31, 2023. We were all shocked. He thought he had a little cold, nothing big,

yet that little sniffle changed our lives forever. I found out first driving home from school when I

got the call from my dad asking about his blood results. I froze. I knew what the 72 instead of -2

platelet count meant. I didn’t know what to do. I knew it was bad. How did the kryptonite spread

so fast? How did my dad go from an educator to hospice in nine months? Instead of going to

Target to get a craft to do, we were now going to chemo and intense radiation. His Sour Patch Kids turned into 20mg of Zofran. We would try to find the good in things, but how can you

when you have a timer on your life? How can you be calm and happy all the time when you’re

watching your own dad slowly fade away? News flash, you can’t

My dad went to an in-home hospice in October of 2024. He knew the cancer wasn’t

going to go away and he was tired of fighting it. We all were tired of fighting it. Those five days

before he passed I didn’t sleep. I stayed up all night talking to him and helping with medications

and taking care of my mom at the same time. I told him that I will never hide who I am for anyone because of him, he showed me how to be me. He showed me how to be brave and passionate in everything I do. The night he died he told me that he’s going to go hangout with his dad and we will see him later and he loves us. We all said we loved him too, then he shut his deep green eyes, the same eyes I stare at in the mirror every morning, the he was gone. My superhero was gone.

Because of him I found my passion in life again, in school again, and in dance again, I started focusing on my education and became very family oriented. I became me. Sometimes you become who you are because life throws a curve ball at you. I hate that he’s gone but I am glad he showed me who I am and who I can be. I love my dad and I am so excited to show him who I am going to be someday.