Some stories are born from pain, others from purpose. Mine comes from both.

A Father’s Journey

Growing up, my father was my first example of what it meant to be a man. He wasn’t perfect—far from it—but he was present. He did the best he could with the tools he was given. A Vietnam veteran, he came home with scars no one could see but all of us could feel. He wasn’t the kind of man who said “I love you,” but he showed it by working tirelessly to provide for his family and protect what mattered most. He gave everything he knew how to give.

My dad was a proud veteran who served his country in the Vietnam War, and he paid a price for those experiences. He had trouble coping and suffered from PTSD, and as kids, we often bore the brunt of it. His struggles from the war, his childhood, and life itself seemed to trap him, holding him back from achieving his goals and dreams. While he did his best, I always felt he “missed the boat,” never fully fulfilling his true desires in life.

We butted heads more often than not. I think deep down, I always wanted to prove something to him—maybe to earn the approval I never quite heard, or just to prove I wouldn’t be stuck in a life that left dreams behind.

My mom was always supportive, no matter what. Like my dad, she’s quiet and doesn’t show much emotion. Still, she loves us in her own way, working tirelessly and willing to give her life for us. She was faithful to my dad and stood by his side until his last breath.

A Shifting World

After a serious car accident the day after high school graduation that nearly left me unable to walk, I was given a new perspective. That second chance drove me to chase something bigger. I tried college, but found my calling in the world construction, starting with nothing—no money, no help, just hustle.

In my early 20s, I started in construction business, determined to build the world. I wanted to prove to everyone that I could do anything. I started on my own, by myself, with no help or money, figuring it out as I went. I took every job I could get, even the jobs nobody wanted. As I began to land bigger and better projects and climb the ranks in the community, my life started finding a path.

In the years that followed, life never stopped testing me. I discovered I had a daughter I wasn’t allowed to raise. I fought—legally, emotionally, spiritually—just for the chance to be in her life. It was my first experience in a courtroom, but it wouldn’t be my last. She was being raised by her grandparents, and I wasn’t allowed to be part of her childhood.

This was my first experience hiring a lawyer and stepping inside a real courtroom. My parents and I didn’t know what to do. We went through the legal process to fight for my right to be in her life, but we were constantly restricted, in and out of court for contempt on trying to be a part of het life.

My daughter was afraid and didn’t want to come , due to false accusations and being brainwashed by mom and the grandparents. I was forced to step back, telling her that when the day comes, she would know how to find me. Over the years, my parents, my family, and I have continued to try to see her, watch for her, and never gave up on being a part of her life.

This was my first true realization that I was also a dad. I had no expectations, no instructions, no clue. I turned to my own dad for advice, and we faced it together, never running from it. I wanted to be a dad and be a part of her life, but I wasn’t allowed. It was incredibly hard to understand why this situation was the way it was.

The Evolution of Fatherhood

Later, I was in a lengthy relationship, and we had two kids. I finally got to be a daddy, actively involved in my children’s lives. Again, there were no instructions with these kids, but my “daddy world” was evolving . The first three years with them were a learning experience and filled with fun, excitment, and being a dad. I realized that being a daddy is the ultimate reward and gift from God. However, the relationship with their mom wasn’t successful, and my world as a daddy changed once more. I found myself unable to be with my kids every day. Again, hiring another lawyer, and fighting in another courtroom to be part of their lives.

I became a single, part-time dad, constantly fighting to be in my kids’ lives. With the struggles of inconsistent time due to their moms, now it was compounded with three kids. The overwhelming feelings and emotions would build up, making me question why life had to be this way. It challenged my mind, soul, and body. I found myself in shoes similar to my dad’s, learning how to be a father while coping with adversity that created traumas ,but in a different way . I buried myself in work to compensate for the void of not being around my kids, focusing on growing my business and proving I could make something of my life.

I moved to West Texas looking for a new beginning. I was tired, broke, and worn down—but not done. A new business opportunity gave me hope again. I was, as always, looking for more in life. I was full of hurt, anger, and emotions, and I didn’t know how to navigate throught it . Then, an opportunity presented itself that reignited my business and career. From there, I was able to revamp and redirect my focus on my life goals.

In my 40s, I found myself a part-time dad again, working and growing, moving forward with my life. I entered a new relationship with my youngest daughter’s mom. After some traumatic events at their mom’s house involving their stepdad, I became a full-time dad to the two youngest kids. Once more, I was back in a courtroom with lawyers, fighting to protect my children. I faced a father’s worst fear when I learned about my daughter being abused. Through these events and the legal process, I became a full-time daddy.

Here I am, still looking for instructions and advice on how to handle the emotions and thoughts, what’s best for the big picture. Again, I found myself in my dad’s shoes, learning to be the best father possible while facing adversity. I consulted with my dad about how he would handle such a life change. His advice was simple: I would know how to handle the situation; it would be up to me to search my heart for the big-picture answers. One thought and one step at a time, I did the best I could and handled it the best I knew how to at the time. During this period, I also found out I was going to be a daddy for the fourth time.

When my youngest daughter was three months old, her mom made a choice that ended our relationship. I was again facing adversity, fighting to be part of my daughter’s life. At the same time, I was learning to be a full-time dad to my two middle kids full time bymyself, with no involvement from their mom, while juggling work, running a business, and facing another custody battle. I was in and out of court for several years, fighting for visitation with my youngest daughter. It was a constant legal battle going nowhere. Once again, I had to face a dad’s worst fear, but this time I was falsely accused of abusing my daughter. After she underwent all the necessary testing and investigations, it was determined that she had not been abused. It was a false allegation against me, an effort to destroy me and my relationship with my daughter.

After exhausting the legal fight and the games, the only option was to leave the decision up to a jury. I again found myself searching and struggling, questioning why and how life had to be this way. In the fall of 2018, when she was six years old, I became a full-time daddy to my youngest daughter as a result of the jury trial. After the jury trial, the other side appealed, and we went through an appeal process that lasted about two years.

The appeal upheld the ruling from the jury trial, and I had full custody of my daughter.

Since the appeal, we’ve been in and out of court with no improvement in co-parenting for the benefit of the child. It has been a constant fight from the other side.

Echoes of Life

On November 5, 2024, I received a call, and another fear materialized: my daddy passed away. He had been sick for a while, and I knew it was coming sooner or later. I just wasn’t ready for it this soon. He lived a long life, a hard life, and was finally healed. Here on earth, his “Daddy’s Story” had ended.

On February 12, 2025, this daddy, had to face fears again when my daughter was temporarily placed in her mom’s custody. Once more, I find myself fighting to be in my kid’s life, having done nothing but be the best dad I possibly can. When I had custody of my daughter, she had an equal relationship with both mom and dad, with no interference. During my custody, we had a great relationship that included extracurricular activities like stock show animal projects, rodeo, 4H, sports, and she had a healthy friend base from school. Her friends would always come to our house to play and stay. Now, I am lucky if I get to talk to her on the phone for maybe 30 seconds once a week, and I only get to spend two weekends a month with her. She was removed from the stable and balanced life she had with myself and her mom since October 2018. Once again, it’s more courtrooms and lawyers just to be a part of my kids’ lives.

On February 20, 2025, I was driving home from a job site on a rural road in west Texas when a vehicle ran a stop sign and pulled out in front of me. I wasn’t able to stop in time, I swerved to miss the vehicle, but it was too late. After I came to and realized what happened, I finally got out of my vehicle. I was in shock and shook up, felt like I was injured, then saw the other vehicle, and after checking on the driver of the other vehicle, it was obvious that it was not a good situation. It took a long time for EMS to arrive, but it was too late. I was kept at the scene late into the night for them to process the wreck and fatality.

While there waiting for my son to come pick me up, I had lots of time to reflect. All I could think about was the other driver; does he have kids? A wife? A family? Is he a daddy? If he had kids, his kids don’t have a daddy. He had lots of life left to live; we are close to the same age. All I could think about was if I was him. What if that was me? Would my kids know how much I loved them? Would they know I fought for them until the very end? That night was very heavy and emotional; I thought about my dad too that night. What would he do if he was in my situation? That night all I could think about is that life is too precious and too short, all we have is right now, nothing else.

I have a purpose, and I hope to have the opportunity to fulfill my purpose before my time is over. Since that night, on February 20th, A Daddy’s Story has come to life. This is more than my story. It’s for every dad who’s fought and been knocked down. For every mom who’s held it together. For every parent who’s felt unheard, unseen, and undone by the weight of life. For every daddy or mommy who puts great effort into co-parenting only to constantly be met with resistance. For every parent who loves their children more than they hate their ex.

This is hope. This is truth. This is purpose.

Through it all, I’ve seen how easily a man can be broken—by the system, by trauma, by heartbreak, by having his own children weaponized against him—but also how powerfully a father’s love can endure above it all.