The memory of my fathers battle with cancer still haunts me to this day. It pained me to see the cancer slowly alter his physique, the once healthy and active man in his prime slowly being whittled down, immobilized by pain. Ever the optimist and fighter, even when being diagnosed six months ago, dad never broke down and serenely told us that we would all pull through this crisis together. Thinking back it may just have been his way of preparing us for what was to come.

After enduring months of painful radiation and cocktails of drugs, dad was left a mere shadow of the man he used to be. The treatment had prematurely aged and weakened him, if that wasnt enough the doctor announced that the treatments were ineffective and dads condition had deteriorated, the cancer had spread to his liver. This was the straw that broke the camels back for my dear mother. She lost her composure and broke down in tears, we all did except for dad. He never flinched, as cool as a cucumber just another hurdle in his way. Dad seemed more concerned about us than himself.

As we began to come to grips with the reality of fathers situation, we gradually settled into making his ward our home. One day the monotony of hospital television was broken by a hoarse whisper Son.. my dads lips ached as he spoke and motioned me to move closer. Help your old man look for the photo mugs you gave me... do you remember it? Go home and bring it here. My mind went blank for a second then a myriad of memories came flashing back. How could I have forgotten about the mug, the white china mug carrying our portrait on it with the simple words thanks dad that carried a far deeper meaning than those two simple words.

The story of the mug was a simple one. My parents had attended my convocation and my mum cajoled us to take a photo together. So we took one, just the two of us, father and son. A rare occasion for a man more comfortable being the creator of such pictures. It was an awkward but nonetheless happy situation as my father was more than a little camera shy. The warmth of the sunshine that day could not compare to the warmth I felt from both my parents, dad especially looked like he had just hit the jackpot. I could feel his pride at watching me step up to accept my scroll, suma cum laude. As the euphoria of the moment began to pass, I decided to do a little something so dad could remember our happiness on that day. I went out to the local mall and made a personalized photo mug using our photograph together which sells a variety of other stuff such as personalized baptism photo mugs, custom firefighter coffee mugs and so on.

When I went home and saw dad there watching television, I was feeling nervous because this was the first time I ever gave him anything. So I just walked to him and said, Here dad, this is for you. He was obviously surprised since this was the first time I ever gave him a gift so he just blurted out a thank you. Afterwards late at night, when I saw him sitting at the dining table holding and looking at the mug that I just gave him earlier, I could see him flashing a smile that I have never seen before and right then, I knew I had made the right choice by giving him that personalized photo mug.

As I passed him the family reunion coffee mug gift for the second time; I was touched by the reversal of situations. When I first handed him the mug it was all sunshine and laughter of our own home and here we were again this time in the gloomy sanitized hospital ward with the smell of disinfectant permeating our pores instead of the smell of mother cooking a hot meal. My dad looked up and said simply Son. You were gods greatest gift to me and I can say that Im mighty proud that you will carry on my name. Nothing compares to the moment when a father realizes that his job is done and he has completed his role. That moment is here on this mug you gave me. He smiled and I nodded and smiled back as warm tears welled up and washed down my cheeks. My dad was saying farewell and that everything would be fine even when he was gone. My heart ached as I felt like screaming No dad! Dont even think of going on we still need you here I wouldnt know what to do without you. Instead I just smiled and wept.

A fortnight later my dear father finally breathed his last breath. He had fought a good fight and had dealt with all his earthly problem, no regrets. I brought our special mug to the funeral then I stored it back where dad had always kept it. My mind was at ease, he was in a better place free from all pain and suffering and Im sure he was smiling down on me proudly from somewhere.