February 14, 2013 is the fifth Valentine’s Day I’ve spent without Cristian. I remember Cristian was always such a ladies’ man. In the hospital, he would charm all of the nurses and tell each one individually that she was his girlfriend. In fact, on his last Valentine’s Day before he passed, Cristian stayed up all night with his Mommy and made valentines for the nurses and some of the female patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Each one was signed “you are my one and only.” One of the nurses found out that another nurse or woman or girl at the hospital had gotten the same card and she confronted him. Cristian just chuckled and walked away. That was Cristian. I can only imagine how many valentines he would have this year if he were still with us. No matter how many years have passed, it still hurts to mark a day that celebrates love without one of the people I love most in the world. Cristian, I love you 10 and you will forever occupy a special place in my heart, on Valentine’s Day and always..

John “Gungie” Rivera
Forever Cristian’s Daddy