‘GMA’ Father’s Day Surprise: Daughters Surprise Devoted Dad

— -- Two young women who faced tremendous health hardships surprised their father on “Good Morning America” today to show him just how much he means to them as Father’s Day approaches.

David Holt, an architect from Atlanta, got the welcome surprise today on “GMA” when he was blindfolded and taken to Turner Field. Once there, Atlanta Braves pitcher Shelby Miller said the team was giving Holt five tickets to an upcoming game and on-field access during batting practice.

“David Holt, thank you for being a lifelong Braves fan,” Miller told Holt in a video message on the Jumbotron. “As a token of our appreciation, we’d like to like to invite you to a game and batting practice in Atlanta. Once again, Happy Father’s Day and thank you for being a fan.”

“Sounds like a great day,” an overwhelmed Holt replied.

The surprise came after Brittany Holt, 26, and her sister Megan, 24, nominated their father for “GMA”’s Thank You Dad series.

“He’s been an amazing role model for us and we’re thankful for the foundation he has given us to grow our family,” Megan explained.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m so lucky that we get to share it with you,” Brittany added. “We all love you.”

From the very beginning, Brittany and Megan were Daddy’s little girls. They left the nest for life in Tennessee and Virginia, leaving their parents, David and Donna, behind.

Two years ago, Brittany was diagnosed with breast cancer. Soon after, she and Megan were both tested for the mutations in the BRCA1 gene. They both tested positive.

Mutations in BRCA1 mean the carrier has an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

Brittany needed six months of chemotherapy. Over the past year, she and her sister both had double mastectomies.

“My percentage of getting breast cancer was 87 percent and higher,” Megan said.

Donna quit her job and moved to Richmond, Virginia, to be with Brittany during chemotherapy.

Faced with the crisis in his family – and with his daughters living states away, David did something extraordinary. He insisted that the entire family be present for Brittany’s regular Friday treatment.

He would drive to pick up Megan in Tennessee and then takes her to Richmond to be with Brittany and Donna. The trip was nearly 700 miles each way, or about 11 hours’ drive.

“He drove Thursday and got to Richmond for my Friday treatment. And then he would turn right back around on Sunday and leave,” Brittany said.

Added Donna: “I didn’t have to ask him to be there. He was just there.”

David made more than a dozen 11-hour trips so he and Megan could be there for Brittany during three surgeries and 15 rounds of chemotherapy.

“They’re just very strong, very positive girls,” David said of his daughters on “GMA” today. “They’ve been a great, positive influence on all of us. They stayed strong.

“She’s a rock star,” the proud father explained of Brittany. “And what she’s gone through,” he added of Megan, “it’s special.”

David’s strength for his family was inspiring to his friends and neighbors alike.

“David was like, ‘We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do … It was hard,” said his friend, Pat Cornelison, through tears. “He doesn’t give up. He stays the course is what he does. He’s a pretty exceptional person. He would tell you he’s not. He’s a pretty humble person.”

David’s support was unconditional and nonstop. He sent texts. Chatted through FaceTime. And he kept his own head shaved until Brittany’s hair grew back.

“He didn’t even look good bald,” Cornelison said, laughing. “You’ve got to laugh through it or you sit around and cry. Sorry. Like me.”

Not only did David go bald, he went pink, too, donning a pink shirt.

“A T-shirt that we wore to every chemo, every surgery, every doctor’s appointment … it said ‘Kicking Cancer to the Curb,’” Megan said.“He’s a very manly man, a guy’s guy, and he would never ever dream to wear pink,” Brittany said.

This coming Father’s Day, the girls wanted to show their dad how much he means to them.

“I want him to know how much I appreciate him being there,” Brittany, who is now cancer free, said.

Megan added: “He has instilled in both of us that we can take on the world.”

When asked if there was anything else he’d like to share about his daughters today, David’s reply was simple: “That’s about it. I love them as much, as well.”

But David wasn’t the only one who had a pleasant surprise in store today. Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort offered the entire family a trip to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa, round trip airfare included.