"It is very special to reach the Champions League final and I take great comfort from the fact that my dad is very proud," he said.
"It is very difficult to live your life normally when your dad has cancer and, although I am sure most families have been through similar experiences, being in England while my father has been back in Holland has been a big problem for me.
"The distance between England and Holland isn't so big, but it's a big gulf when your father is so seriously ill. When I was in Holland I would see him every day and help look after him. That is no longer possible, of course.
"At least he has been able to come over to Liverpool for our home games, and he always stays for the weekend. That helps us both and it means a lot to me.
"Now he has seen me achieve one of the biggest things possible as a footballer. I am sad to say he is not well enough to travel to Athens. The trouble is that you have to do a lot of walking in the city and that would be too much for him.
"Instead he will be watching on television at my home in Liverpool, and I want to bring the Cup back for him so he can celebrate with us all."