I grew up with Dave - he was a childhood friend of my older brothers.  He always made me laugh.  He also always wanted me to be his girlfriend.  I just wanted to be his friend until my junior year of high school.  I realized I really did care more for him and was so blessed to have such a great friend that made me feel adored.  We were married in Sept. of 1974 after I graduated from high school.  We had three sons together and 6 grandchildren.  We have helped our youngest son raise his two children who both have Cystic Fibrosis for the past 5 years since our daughter-in-law died following surgery in Sept. of 2005.

Life hasn't always been easy for us but we were in it for the long haul and celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary 9/21/2010.  On November 5th, 2010, we both were getting the grandkids around for school and he said he'd take them to school since I had to be at a meeting early at work that day.  While I was in the meeting, someone came in and told me I had an emergency phone call.  My son was on the phone and said "Mom, dad and the kids were in an accident - he is pretty banged up but the kids are okay." I went to the ER and got there before the ambulance did with my husband and grandchildren.  I knew that the accident involved a semi...

When they finally got to the hospital, he had to have CPR since his heart wasn't working on its own.  Dave was a Registered Nurse and worked in the same ER.  I recognized the doctor (someone my husband admired) and the nurses who were working on him.  I knew it didn't look good - they let me come in the room and talk to him as they worked on him hoping he would hear me and fight for his life.  As I held his hand and told him "Hang on Dave, you can do it - I love you - you are not alone honey."  I could sense things were not going well and began to recite the 23rd Psalm to him and pray that God would carry him.  The doctor finally told me that they couldn't get a pulse and we had to let him go.  He was only 55. 

The staff in the ER were all crying just as much as I was and our children, grandchildren, extended family, etc.  They let us stay in the ER all day and one after one of his family members and co-workers came in to say goodbye to him.  He left a huge void for all of us.  I feel so sad knowing my grandchildren (who lost their mother at such young ages or 3 and 5) had to witness their "Papa Dave" die.  He was such a comfort to them and to all of us.

Each day I feel a little sadder - I lost the one person who always made me feel like I wouldn't have to face life alone - I would always have someone by my side as we faced life's challenges.  I was blessed to have someone who made me feel like he adored me from the time I was a young girl.  I wish I could hit the rewind button.  I now feel so alone.  My friend of 46 years (we met when I was 8 years old) and husband for 36 years is no longer at my side.  I do feel he is at peace though and that comforts me some.  I miss him so much and will always miss his laughter, his humor, his hugs, his words of reassurance, etc.  Life will never be the same.