Monday, December 05, 2011

Hello to All -
First and foremost let me let you all know that Addison (as she likes to be referred to when she is published) is now down 3 teeth. This weekend we lost our first one on top and let me tell you, WOW, she has a gap up there. (She had a space between her teeth to start with and now loosing the tooth, WOW.) But do not get me wrong she is as beautiful as ever.
It is amazing to think Bo has been gone for 2 years now. One moment Addi and I feel like he is right there with us, or we put ourselves back in those moments of 2 years ago. Amazing how the mind and memories work. I think we are doing well. We keep our mantra one day at a time. Most days bring us exciting new changes, friends and experiences. Other days bring us new realizations (for both of us) Addi is definitely more aware of the experiences she is going to miss out on that she would have had with Bo. This holiday season I have had more questions of "Why does everyone else's family still have their Daddy?" I never have the answer for that other than your Daddy loves you very much and I like to think he is always with us. But never fear we are still taking on the holidays full force.
Sometimes I wonder why Bo passed away at this time of year? I do get many questions if this gets us down more because of the time of the year and I have decided something. Bo is obviously greatly missed by many people. But I think his death on December 5th might have been perfect timing for us to reflect and always remember what matters. We might just be starting to dread the Christmas hassle and shopping, but I like to think he is there to remind us we have people to shop for? or We have the funds to shop? Bo's death right now reminds me to tell those I love them. Bo loved nothing more than to call someone and say how much they meant to them. I honestly think he loved doing this to his buddies more, but some of you (who will not be named) would panic and freak out a little. Oh how is loved to mess with you, but never for one second think that he didn't mean it. He loved like no one I have ever met. I am blessed and lucky he loved me so.
Please remember to make this day count and pay it forward. Call those people you were meaning to call, laugh as much as possible, shed a few tears, but always, always Remember Our Bo.
All our Love
Christi and Addi

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

He was a light here on earth and now he is a light in the heavens. We all miss him.

Kendall Gewalt said...

By happenstance, I saw your story chronicled in a 2006 article. I was profoundly struck at the initial achievement of your husband with his double lung transplant while diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Upon further reading, I found out you lost him despite his valiant fight in 2009. What is more amazing is your eloquent and unflinching desire to share his triumph and his wonderful, wonderful character. I, too, lost a partner in 2010 whose age and loving nature was similar to your husband. As a great athlete (marathons, biking, spinning, skiing) and with unending energy, she was diagnosed with a migraine by our local team of neurologists only to succumb to non-small-cell lung cancer (non-smoker) 3 weeks later. Her family and I never had a chance to realize the diagnosis as she did not suffer any symptoms. After all, our doctors simply said it was a headache and refused to order more scans. With the intervention of the Governor's Office of California, my partner was transferred to UCSF, whereby a PETscan revealed that the cancer had spread to her spinal cord and brain ...so thank you for all you have done to spread the word for the need for testing...and what you continue to do with educating our medical community, our physicians and our families. I have set up scholarship via UCSF -- the largest amount of support given -- in N. California to be given to medical students who are pursuing lung cancer research. With that being said, we are also vetting candidates who understand the need for legitimate research and trials in finding a cure (we are using the example of the lack of scientific integrity of Dr. Anil Potti, Dr. Joseph Nevins and other researchers at Duke). I also want to say that I am "stealing" some of your information you have graciously shared about the facts and numbers behind this horrible disease

Please continue to write and share your story. There are people like me that are so grateful that there are voices and wonderful families such as yours...prevailing for a cure.
Regards, Kendall
kendall@9amrun.com

Stevensonnthz said...

He was a light here on earth and now he is a light in the heavens. We all miss him.