Jessica R.’s dad, Mark C., served in the U.S Army and sadly passed from an IED. Despite the daily struggle of missing a parent, Jessica believes it’s important to try every day to be the person her dad would want her to be. She thinks her dad would be proud of the person she’s grown into.
“People will talk about their fathers, and I’m constantly reminded of what I lost, and it is so hard to not feel bitter or jealous,” explained Jessica. “Most of all, it’s hard because I think about my father and miss him every day, and it’s difficult to live with the grief that never goes away.”
Jessica plans to graduate with her nursing degree in June and continue to pursue her bachelors next year. She will never forget when her dad told her, “Jess, you’re going to do great things with life.”