Author: Greek Fighting Orange

It is with great sadness and immense heartache that I am writing my blog today. My honey, my Superman, my husband of almost 42 years passed away yesterday. His battle is over and I thought leukemia won, but I realized that you and I won. We had him on this earth for 62 years. Leukemia had him only 15 months of that time. Our children had him for almost 35 and 40 years. We packed A LOT of love, A LOT of joy, A LOT of life and a little sorrow in those years.

We were able to share time with family, friends and even our business associates during these last few months. We tried to make sure we were able to see and enjoy as many of you as possible. He knew his time was short and just in case he hadn’t touched your life he tried to touch it in his final days and in his special way.

My sadness cup overflows. I wonder how all my tomorrows will be without my honey.

My Mom-in-law told me that if I find another man as great as him that I should marry him. I think she and I both know that he is one of a kind.

Many people have said to me that “they just don’t know what to say” and I agree I just don’t know what to say either. In Chris’ final days he knew what to say. He would say “I love you” or “Ditto” if you said you loved him. He knew your name and he would ask “How are you?”. He knew the simplest words to say that made the biggest impact. Did I ever tell you what a kind and sweet man my honey is?

REST IN PEACE MY SWEETEST SUPERMAN

Good Morning to all. I would like to thank everyone for ALL the LOVE and SUPPORT you have given to Chris and I. We are truly blessed.

I have to say that this part of our journey has been very difficult for both of us for many reasons. I’m thankful for all the staff at hospice. I don’t think I could do what they do.

A year ago I would tell our kids that these are “Bonus Days”, now we have “Bonus Minutes”. Little moments when Chris wakes long enough to say “I Love You”, or “Hi” and your name.

Our cousin, John, asked about our fig tree yesterday. Our tree is bursting with leaves. When the wind blows the leaves wave as if to say “look at me and the fruit that I will soon bear”! Our tree goes dormant every winter and bursts with energy every spring. Our tree doesn’t have leukemia. Our tree hasn’t had to withstand the storms that my honey has endured. I don’t think the tallest or strongest tree could have kept fighting like my Superman has.

Love to all!

Good Morning! Many of you know that Chris is in hospice for a 5 day “Respite Care for the Caregiver “. In truth, he is in hospice to hopefully get his medicines tweaked a little. It was probably a coincidence that last Friday we changed his pain medicine and by Monday my honey couldn’t walk and was very weak. I knew it was most likely his disease but in the back of my mind I wondered if it could have been the change we made in his medicine. We all know that medicines can mess with us in many different ways. I was praying it was the medicine. He has been in hospice almost 36 hours now and if anything, my honey is getting worse.

I have been staying at hospice with my honey, doing whatever I can to try to make him a little more comfortable. Sadly there isn’t much I can do but say “I love you” and continue to be by his side. Of course we ask for your continued prayers. Love to all!

I hope you are all having a great Memorial weekend with you families and friends. Chris’ sister Kelly and our niece and nephew are visiting from Canada. We were able to enjoy a barbecue with them and others in our family today. A graduation party for one our favorite young men is tomorrow and a visit to my sister’s lake house on Monday. Now of course that all sounds good on paper but whether it happens that way or not is another thing.

You know I see my honey everyday and I can see the decline but when someone hasn’t seen him in a while it takes them by surprise a little. I find myself comforting them because I know what they are feeling and/or thinking.

It is harder for my Superman to act like he is okay around his Mom. She is a smart women and she can see just fine. My heart aches for her and all I can do is hug her and say I love you. My parents lost their son years ago and I cannot imagine what they went through. I pray I never know.

Today was a good day and I’m thankful. I pray that you enjoy each and every day God gives you. Love to all.

Hello Everyone! I hope this post finds you well. As you may know this is one of the wettest Mays ever. Our flowers have been loving it and they look amazing. I’m loving it too because I don’t have to water as much. 😊 The weeds love the rain too, I am not loving that!

My honey is sleeping 15+ hours now. He tires very easily and he isn’t the steadiest guy so he has been using a cane to help. Sometimes he “forgets” to use it properly because he says he is “feeling good”. He makes me nervous when he thinks he is “feeling good”!

Last week some of Chris’ friends arranged a “Vegas Night in Toledo” for a fun get together. Many of the guys that go to Vegas on their yearly trip were able to attend. He had a great time PLUS he won $$!! Thank you George for making that happen. We love you and Sue!

Hugs to all of you from Chris and I! God bless you all!