Let’s celebrate Elmer, and 1 year of sobriety

Friends, family, coworkers, or anyone who’s come across our path:

I’m doing a challenge for my favourite person on this planet. My father Elmer Hayden, my best friend, who’s the sun and moon to me.

He’s raised me the way his parents raised him, so open minded, appreciative and wholesome.

I am #chefC because of my dad and his parents. My all star father was a farm boy, who got A+ marks in school, even when he was harvesting for 3-4 months out of the year, who deer hunted among other small crawlers, fished, woodworked and created opportunity and success in every path or turn he took.

He taught me how to cook, hunt, fish and camp. He loved me from being his baby girl, through my teenage era, my early 20’s which broke his heart and back dealing with me! Haha

bless this man for being my dad. And now being in my 30’s, he has been such a warrior.

Not many people know his story of being such a successful farmer and welder. He was the best of the best. Until he had aortic aneurysms which has put him on disability for many years. After his parents passed and other difficult obstacles he has suffered with alcoholism which finally put him in a hard spot for a long time. He has had multiple heart attacks and health scares.

Now, his liver, kidneys, blood health and diabetes have all affected him tremendously. His hemoglobin is always monitored as it is low often. He lives with two heart conditions that are irreversible and now brain aneurysms which are not a threat at this moment, but as he is a high risk patient he will not be operated on. This is a list of the major issues among many more that affect his health and quality of life from here on out.

BUT

It has been ONE year SOBER this month.

The longest he has ever gone since being a young gaffer.

My dad finally made the decision to be sober and live his remaining years healthy ; the sober life has given him time with his grand children and himself, but mostly to be my best friend I grew up with, who’s always been my number one.

He may not be the same invincible dad he once was, but he’s still here, fighting everyday and doing one hell of a job.

One year ago, my father became sober reguardless of his family trauma, loss, pain or lifestyle. He entered a new chapter in his journey and has chosen to be sober even though it has been one of the hardest challenges in his life.

One thing I know about my father is that since he was a small boy, he has always loved challenges and 98% of the time had been the best at anything he has tried to win, accomplish or be the best at. The 2% was one mean chemistry teacher who refused to give him 100% because he couldn’t fathom how my dad took over 50% of a semester off of school in high school to harvest but still attend and write his finals and get 100% on a test haha.

Someone so strong and powerful, who had everything but lost his way and hasn’t had the the most forgiving outcome or lucky cards dealt for him with his health is still here, standing, living and is bettering himself, his quality of life, and length of life.

That being said; because of his disability , insurance and old age, he doesn’t have the financial freedom a dad like him should have: I want to gift him this for his birthday this year, Something or anything to make this summer and year one of the best so he can go fishing, camping and be taken care of after he’s taken care of everyone for so many years!