I would later marry my high school girlfriend Melanie Adams Swearengen. We had a beautiful girl together in 2016; unfortunately, in 2017 I experienced a tragedy that would rock me to the core. I tragically lost my wife. I became a widower which immediately made me a full-time single father raising my 9-month-old daughter (Olivia). Though there was much heartache and pain with experiencing such a tragic loss, I had to show up for my daughters. Which is what I did and will continue to do each day. I pause here to reminisce just how much she meant to me. Melanie was my biggest cheerleader, she encouraged me each day to be great. I still see her smile today and I can hear her laugh. She had a personality that would light up the entire room! She was a phenomenal woman and forever in my heart. 

Being a dad alone isn’t easy. But raising children as a single father is even more challenging but so rewarding. Some men become Dads intentionally, having made an active decision to become a father and taken whatever steps are necessary to get there. For others, it’s more of a surprise or even a shock. Too care about somebody else more than you care about yourself. Their happiness, their health, their sense of wellbeing and personal security, is more important than your own. This to me is the true definition of being a DAD. I would give up everything for daughters, without even a second thought. Becoming a father is one of the most important and fulfilling jobs you will have in your life. Being a loving, involved dad is the best thing you can do for your child. The type of father you are when they’re little will influence them right through to their adult life. Children need close, stable relationships with both parents. They do better when fathers spend time with them and interact with them in a positive way. Fathers can help their child’s development through play, by being a good role model, and by being warm, loving and engaged. Even if you’re not the biological father of a child, being a father figure who gives them love, support and involvement will benefit the child. From my life experiences, D.A.D.S. of STL was birthed. I am a father that knows struggle, anger, fear, grief, and challenges.