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Terminally-ill father makes new memories with his daughters

A father's gift to his daughters
A father's gift to his daughters 03:16

DURHAM, N.C. -- Whether etched on tiny trophies or scrawled in crayon and marker, a lot of kids will declare their dad the world's greatest this Father's Day. But when 8-year-old Logan Rosati makes the claim, you can't help but believe her.

"He wants me to have a wonderful life. I wouldn't trade him for a million dollars," Logan said of her dad.

CBS News first met Logan's dad, Chris Rosati, a few months ago. He was on a mission to give away a thousand donuts all over his hometown of Durham, N.C.

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Chris Rosati CBS News

A few years earlier, Chris had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. It's a terminal illness, but instead of wallowing, he made a conscious decision to spread as much kindness as could, while he could - mostly as an example for Logan and her little sister, Delaney.

Chris said, "I can't teach them every lesson. I don't have enough time. But I can be a good person and they can see that."

Chris says one of the benefits of ALS is that it puts your priorities in crystal-clear focus. He says dads who think their careers matter in the slightest - and as a vice president of marketing he was one of them - are clueless.

"We're missing the greatest experience we'll ever have, ever. You always think that people who are dying want to get up early and watch the sunrise. I don't. I like to sleep - but if my kids get up early ... I want that experience," Chris told CBS News.

That's also why he is making every effort to make new memories every day. He said he "got his summer full."

He arranged for Logan, who loves cooking, to work beside a top-notch chef. He's got even bigger surprises ahead that he says will really wow his girls. But as far as Logan is concerned, that's really not necessary. He had her at hello. "That dad who has ALS was the dad I was born with," said Logan.

As for feeding her life lessons, he had her with the donuts. When asked what she will remember after her dad, she said, "He tried to make friends with the world. I think it's hard to do that. So I'm proud of him."

And you can bet right now, he's so proud of her.

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