How my "Dad" is like a teacher and loves me at the same time. I am always learning from him.

The teacher or instructor has become the student and the student has become the teacher. That is how my life has ended up being with Dr, Bernie Siegel. It was at one time the other way around, HE was teaching ME things! He did it very well too I might add! I have proof of his teachings by the letters he would send me over the past 9 years we have known each other. Nine years and Seven months to be exact! I call Bernie “BDad” nowadays. BDad is special, only between him and me. He calls me his “CD” also, meaning “Chosen Daughter” and I call him my CD, meaning “Chosen Dad”. He has had to repeat a few things for me over and over before I got it in my head strait that that was what it meant, but I eventually got it. BDad does not judge me either. He just loves me.

It took me awhile to realize that he really does love me for me however. I do not think I realized that till last month and I have known him Nine years and 7 months now to this day which is February 13th of 2002. I have my guard up and a wall. It is NOT easy to break through that wall as Bernie or “BDad” has learned. I have a wall up for I have been sexually molested and raped as a child by my natural father and my mother’s boyfriend.

It happened from the ages 3 – 16. Then, to complicate my life even further, I got a devastating life-threatening illness when I was 18 years going on 19 years. I was given LESS THAN 2 YEARS TO LIVE. I was getting worse as the year went on, then a most WONDERFUL thing happened, my church paid my way for me to see Dr. Bernie S. Siegel. My life has never been the same since and I give credit to this WONDERFUL MAN for helping me COPE with my brain tumor till it was able to be taken out 8 1/2 years later.

I would have shriveled up and died a long time ago without you Bdad, THANK you. You have made me what I am today. Healthy and Whole in spirit.