An Open Letter To My 10-Year-Old Daughter [VIDEOS/PHOTOS]

Macy,

I couldn't sleep last night after hearing the news about your right ear. I know how important music and dance are to you. It pains me to see you go through this struggle. I would do anything to trade places with you. I'm your dad, and my number one job is to keep you safe from harm. I take that responsibility very seriously. But how do you fight off something you can't see? How do you fight off an enemy that's slowly taking away your ability to hear?

I'll tell you how...with strength, education and faith. We stay strong as a family. We continue to pick each other up when the going gets tough. We continue to educate ourselves on the latest technology, therapy and medicine available. We continue to pray to the good lord above. We look to him in the darkest of days, and remember that at the end of the day we're blessed.

Blessed to be apart of such a loving and supportive family. Blessed with loving and supportive friends. Blessed with a loving and supportive dance family. Blessed with loving and supportive doctors. Blessed with a loving and supportive school district. They say count your blessings...if my math is correct...that's 5 groups of people that will always be apart of "Team Macy!"

No matter what happens, I'll always be there. I'll be there to make you laugh. I'll be there to make you forget. I'll be there to irritate you. I'll be there to wipe away the tears. I'll be there just to be there. Dad will always be wherever you need me. That's a promise. Your strong, smart, talented, loving, funny and extremely sassy lol. You got this!!!! If anybody can make lemonade out of lemons, its YOU. You always see the BEST in every single person and every SITUATION. P.S. nobody rocks the pink hearing aids like you do!

I love you so so so much. You're my favorite person. You're my safest place to hide. ~Dad

**I was appointed to the Minnesota Department of Education's Deaf / Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee yesterday. My appointment starts in October and runs through 2020.