Happy 80th Birthday Celebration to My Dearest Father!
As I sit down to write this, I find myself overwhelmed not just by the occasion, but by the sheer weight of a lifetime of love you have given me. It’s a love that has been my constant, my shelter, and my guiding star. On this monumental birthday, I want to try to give some of that love back to you in words, though I know they could never be enough.
There are memories that are not just remembered; they are felt in your bones. They become a part of who you are. For me, so many of those foundational memories feature you.
I can still feel the gentle, steady weight of your hand on mine in that hospital room. The world was scary and uncertain, but you were my anchor. In a quiet moment, when fear was my only companion, you leaned in and told me I was your favourite child. I know every parent says that to each of their children, but in that moment, Dad, I believed you with my whole heart. You weren’t just offering comfort; you were giving me a piece of your strength. You made me feel like the most important person in the world, and you have a miraculous way of making me feel that way still.
And even further back, in the quiet, steamy warmth of the bathroom after a bath, I remember you brushing my hair. Your hands, which I knew were strong and capable, were so incredibly tender. Each stroke was a silent message of care, a ritual of protection and immense love. I didn’t have the words for it then, but I felt it completely: I was safe. I was cherished. I was yours.
You have built a life for our family on a foundation of such moments unspoken acts of devotion, unwavering presence, and a compassion that never asks for anything in return. You taught me about strength through your resilience and about kindness through your gentle spirit.
Now, as we celebrate these eighty incredible years of your life, I want you to know your legacy. It’s not just in the big achievements, but in these quiet, profound moments that are forever etched on my soul. It is the legacy of a truly great man a wonderful father.
Thank you, Dad, for the strength in the hard times and the tenderness in the quiet ones. For being my first and most important hero.
I love you more than words could ever express. May your day be filled with all the joy you have given to me throughout my life.
With all my heart,
Your ever loving and grateful child,
Beke nwa’m
Ikenna Nicolas Ukwa ,
(My wife, Lolo Jennifer E. Ukwa and Children; Sophia, Noah, Liam & Ethan loves you and wishes you more fulfilled years ahead).
