My tear ducts are probably impaired. At 4:50 in the morning today, I found myself watching a video shared on Facebook and crying a river. It was the video of a father and son in the Ironman together.
Ironman, as it turned out, is a series of long-distance races consisting of a 3.86-kilometer swim, 120.8-kilometer bike and a 42-kilometer marathon, raced in that order and without a break.
Photo via teamhoyt.com
What was different about this particular Ironman was the fact that the father, a retired lieutenant colonel from the Air National Guard, would:
- pull his quadriplegic son who had been born with cerebral palsy in a boat tied to a bungee cord attached to his waist in the swimming stage
- use a special two-seater bicycle for the biking stage
- push him in a custom-made running chair in the marathon stage.
The father’s love and devotion was unbelievable. And the son’s zest for life outside of his wheelchair was very inspiring.
The son was asked once, if there was anything he could give his father, what would it be? He answered:
“The thing I’d most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once.”
This post is dedicated to the man who fathered me. Wherever you are, Tatang, know that you are loved and greatly missed. Happy birthday!
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There is really something magical of a father’s love than the love of a mother. Its quiet unexplainable but there’s a certain bond that makes it so amazing.
tsk tsk tsk…. I suddenly miss my father way back home 🙁
@ Herbert … being a mother myself, your comment struck a chord in me … haha … but yes, I suppose you’re right …
hmmm… When I was a child and until my college years, I dont misses my father much instead I miss my mother more. I cried at night everytime I think of her. heheheh…
I saw this video too and it did make a waterfall out of my eyes. Haha!
I agree with Herbert. My mom passed away 11 years ago and left my dad with 4 young girls aged 8-11. He wasn’t ready but he took care of all of us. No help from any relatives, no aunts or the like. Looking back, I still cannot imagine how he did it. How he kept the family together and even more closer when our mother was still around. He eventually remarried 7 years later but we’re still under 1 roof with the new kids and my stepmom =)
I saw this in the TV but I forgot what channel, It’s really inspiring
Christina, you’re father, I would say, is a super dad … 😀
Oops, Christina, I meant “your” father …
B-Boy … I agree, very inspiring!