JaKayla Rich, Desire Buckanon, and Jade Alexandria Henry were the winners of Ink Spot’s First Annual Essay Contest. They were awarded for their inspirational writing on August 14 at the Allen County Public Library’s main branch in downtown Fort Wayne.

This summer, the newspaper invited local children and teens to write essays related to the topic “Overcoming Hard Times, Defeating Obstacles.” Young essayists wrote about a range of issues, including overcoming stage fright, adjusting to life after a parent’s stroke, and the challenges of trust and friendship during the middle school years. Three award recipients were presented with a plaque and a $100 check. Ink Spot extends its sincere thanks to the ACPL for sponsoring this year’s event. We cannot think of a more fitting partner.

Ink Spot is proud to present the work of each winner over the next three Ink Spot issues, as well as on our website. This week, we present JaKayla Rich’s essay “I’m My Daddy’s Wah-Wah.”

Tabitha Ervin, John Dortch, JaKayla Rich and Sharon Tubbs

I’m My Daddy’s Wah-Wah

By JaKayla Rich

I'm the biggest daddy's girl, I've always been. When I was little, he was my only choice, and I was his princess. There was nothing I could do to get in trouble, and I knew it. I had him wrapped around my little finger. On August 1st, 2009, the world around me changed. We were at my grandma’s house where Mom and Dad were planning their wedding. From what I remember, my little brothers and I were playing outside while our mom and dad were inside grandma's house. TT, my aunt, came outside and yelled "Jamar fell out!" He was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. It was determined that at 29 years old, he had a stroke and a brain aneurysm.

I had never known a home without my dad, so, being only 5 years old, there were only two questions I asked: "Where's Daddy?" and "Can I see Daddy?" Mom tried her best to explain but she couldn't quite get me to understand. I just knew Daddy was supposed to be walking me to kindergarten and Daddy was supposed to be here to celebrate my birthday. Daddy had spent three weeks in a coma, and he would spend even more time in rehab before I could see him. During that time, we fell into hardship. Though my mom tried, she was unable to maintain finances on her own as our dad was the main breadwinner. Unfortunately, we ended up losing our car and the home we were getting built. When I finally was able to see him, he had lost weight, couldn't walk, and struggled with his speech, but he was still my daddy. He smiled while I lifted his arm to give me a hug, but when it came to saying my name, JaKaylah, he could only get out "Kay-too-wuh". No matter how many times he said it, the result was always Kay-too-wuh. To not say it wrong, he calls me Wah-Wah, the nickname he gave me as a baby. My dad has always been a wonderful dad and he continues to be.

Yes, I'm still his princess, I still have him wrapped around my finger. I am still a daddy's girl, and I will always be my daddy's Wah-Wah. There is no one like him. My dad is strong, and he did not let the fact that he was (and still is) half paralyzed affect his parenting. My mom, for a while, had to take care of my dad and four small children until my dad was up on his own two feet. Since then, he has attended activities, supported his children in extracurricular, and has been there for every high and low our family has experienced. I can say, proudly, that he is a better father than most able-bodied men. Though he is more than his physical capabilities, it is one of the aspects that makes him such a great dad.