Veronica, you asked about our stories...so,  when I came home from Texas after my divorce, with 3 small sons, Don & I met at a BBQ at my parents house the next week, and were together from then on.  He also had 3 small sons...we lived together for 13 years, and married in 1986.  He got diabetes around 2000.  He had vascular trouble from many years of smoking...had surgeries, many problems but several good doctors kept him healthy as possible and we had a great life together and a great love.

On the morning of June 26, 2012, I woke up, knew something was very wrong, I didn't hear his treadmill going, didn't smell coffee...the house was dead silent.  I looked to his side of the bed, saw him there, our little dog was laying on him, staring at me, and I knew he was gone.  Everything after that was a big blur which I still don't have a clear memory of.  Now I just try to do the best I can, one day at a time, it isn't easy, I don't think the grief and pain and missing him will ever go away...my life is good, overall, but sometimes I just feel like screaming I want my life back.  May God Bless you, you will get through this, just continue to try to be as strong as you can.