DWTS' Cheryl Burke Opens Up About Losing Her Dad in 2018

Cheryl Burke is reflecting on the loss of her dad this year in a heartfelt tribute.

The Dancing with the Stars pro expressed her sentiments about her late father – who sadly passed away in March – on Instagram on Friday (December 28).

“As I sit here and reflect on this past year, I have to say that 2018 will always be the year that I will never forget,” she wrote. “From my Dads passing in March, to getting engaged to the love of my life, [Matthew Lawrence], on my birthday and last but not least, competing in my 21st season of Dancing With the Stars with an incredible partner, [Juan Pablo Di Pace], that culminated in the ‘most shocking elimination in all 27 seasons of @dancingabc,’ this year has been a rollercoaster ride to say the least.”

“There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t think about my Dad,” she continued. “I have never been through so much pain, heartache and sleepless nights since he passed away. When I got that call in March, a call that I’d never wish upon anyone to receive, my life changed forever. I’m sure you all have heard of the saying ‘whatever you do, don’t take anything for granted.’ Well, that saying is so unbelievably true.”

Click inside to hear what else she had to say…

“Through every second of my heartbreak, the person standing by my side was Matt,” she added. “The way that he was there for me when I lost my dad, and has shown up for me every day since, solidified that he is the person I am meant to spend the rest of my life with. When he asked me to be his wife as we celebrated my birthday this year, there was not a doubt in my mind that the answer was yes! Our engagement has been the biggest blessing and I am so excited to be finishing this year planning our wedding. He truly is the man of my dreams!”

“I can’t say that I am leaving this year with closure,” she shared. “I think I still have a lot of mourning left to do and I have a lot of questions that may never be answered, but moving forward I am choosing to let go of the things I can’t control and am learning how to make peace with knowing that my dad wouldn’t want anything else for me but to live a happy life with my soon to be husband. I could not have made it through this year without him or the friends and family [who] have been there with me every step of the way. Thank you for being my rocks.”

Read Cheryl‘s full note here.