Legacy

I blog about all he is suffering.  All we are enduring at the hands of this awful disease.  What we have lost and what he will never get to do. 

I blog because I want the journey to be documented.  To help others on this path know they are not alone.  To answer questions for those who genuinely want to know how Randy is doing but are reluctant to ask, out of respect.

What I haven't done is document who he was.  His story.  What he was before he became a patient.

He was kind.  He was sweet.  He was silly and passionate and brave.

He was popular in high school, with a smile that could kill and beautiful blonde tresses.  Played football, swam a little and loved life.

There was a period where he was a victim of his own poor decisions and self pity... until he wasn't.  At his lowest point, he decided to save himself.  

He joined the program, followed the steps and found God.  He rebuilt relationships and reclaimed his life.  He helped others and gave selflessly.

He and his father endured the death of his older brother and watched Alzheimer's take his Mother.

Randy and I grew up in the same neighborhood but were merely acquaintances.  Didn't discover our love until our mid 30's and wed in 2006.

 He loved my children as if they were his own.  He allowed me to do the same for his son.  He was an amazing example of what a husband should be to a wife, to OUR children.  

He worked on the road, away from home, 5 days per week, for the first 12 years of our marriage.  We were taken care of and never went without.  

This man simply decided he wanted to become a runner.  Trained for 4 years and finally achieved his goal of running the Boston Marathon in 2017.

His diagnosis in early 2018 ended his professional and running career.  While devastated, he did not lose his zest for life.  And, for a bit, the illness didn't matter.

As he approaches stage 7, the final stage of this horrific deal of the cards, I often reminisce with him, all that he has accomplished.

He may not remember what he has seen and done, the kind human he was, who I am, who his dad is, how to care for himself or how to calm the fears his shrinking brain creates...

But I do.  We all do.

He is a son, a brother, a husband, an uncle, a father and a grandfather.  A friend and a neighbor.  He was a hard worker and an athlete.  He was always a smiling face.

And we will never forget.

Cheers💜