06/11/2025
For those of you that I don't know me on this page, I'm in a photo competition through "America's Favorite Photos" in honor of my dad who passed away. I'm currently in 2nd place in the quarter finals. But, only the top TWO will advance to the semifinals. There are four days for each round. Also, it's free to vote everyday, with double vote days on the first two days of each round. I do this competition with a passion because of my dad, primarily. I'm going to be open and be real of why I'm so passionate about this competition, but I'm not saying it to get sympathy for y'all's vote - honestly. I just wanna share why I post everyday reminding y'all to vote, not that I owe an explanation or anything. I only share it not to be aggravating, but this is why...
I haven't yet dealt with my dad's passing a year and a half ago. I'm in therapy to try to cope with it. And no giving me advice on how I should be dealing with it, please. Everytime I think about the day he passed away, I quickly shut it off because I don't want to feel that pain, which is unhealthy...it just prolongs the grief. The reason it's so difficult for me to go through that grief process is because of HOW he died. My daddy and mom lived in Semmes - over an hour from where I live. Daddy was home alone one day because mom was in the hospital at the time. He was in the kitchen one evening fixing something to eat when he had a massive stroke. He fell to the kitchen floor and because he was alone and his cell phone was on the kitchen counter, he had no way of getting help. He laid on the kitchen floor all night long, alone. It wasn't until the next morning when my sister (who lives just 10 min away) found him. He was aggravated and told my sister to get him off of the floor because he had been in that position for several hours. I can't help but think how afraid and how uncomfortable he was, laying there in that position that long. By the time he got to the hospital, it was too late for him to get the TPA treatment to reverse the effects of the stroke. As a result, I watched my daddy suffer for a whole month before he passed away. During that time, he knew who we were and was cognitive which made his suffering worse. He couldn't move one side of his body, he couldn't see very well, he couldn't speak - all he could do was mumble, he couldn't eat, he got very agitated, and eventually his organs shut down. My dad was such a kind, meek man and he was always building things, etc. and for him to not be able to move and just lay in the bed was tormenting to him. He died from complications of fluid in his lungs and kidney failure. I can't get the image of him laying on that floor all night by himself out of my head, and so I haven't been able to deal with the grief. Plus I'm dealing with the guilt of not being there when he had it.
So as a result, I decided that since I am a photographer to join this competion and sponsor the "Stroke Awareness Foundation" so that $10,000 would go to the charity in honor of my dad, so that others wouldn't have to suffer like he did. True, I also win $10,000 for myself. But for me, it ain't about the money. I'm in it because it's one positive way I can deal with the grief of losing him. But the good news about all of this? He's in heaven, celebrating his new pain free life with our heavenly Father. And someday? I'm gonna see him again. ❤️
Anyway, THIS is why I ask for you guys to PLEASE vote for my photo to win. here's the link below that will take you to my dashboard to vote 👇👇. Today is the last day to vote before the top two advance to the next round. Thank you in advance ❤️❤️
Please vote for my photo in the America’s Favorite Photos competition:
America’s Favorite Photos: Discover your new favorite photos!
