Remembering For Friends

Three weeks ago my sister-in-law sent us an email saying that her aunt had died.  We sent a card to her.  I wasn't sure I could make a card for her as I didn't really have those types of stamps.  

Then two weeks ago a friend mentioned her father died.

Then last week my friend at the dog park (Wendy) came in and told me her husband (Steve) died.

I met Steve when I first started going to the dog park in March 2018.  He never said much as his face / mouth was damaged and understanding him was difficult.  But I was always willing to talk with him, to listen.  I also respected if he didn't want to talk to me.  He had mouth cancer years ago and had to have surgery etc.

I had not seen him for a long time and then started seeing the two dogs, but with a woman. (In July/August 2018)  I happened to be there one morning when she came with the dogs, and I cautiously asked her how her husband was.  Wendy said he wasn't feeling well, had stomach pains.

As she continued to come with the dogs, I'd plan for the same time to go with Jax.  We started looking for each other and talk.  I really like her.  She's someone who being friends with works...... and she's thinking of moving to Windsor to be closer to family.  (Damn!)  They have no children, just the small dogs.  She would talk how Steve wasn't feeling well, about going to the hospital with him, about him hallucinating, about him wanting to come home from the hospital, him acting fine in front of the doctors, about her frustrated with him / with the doctors,  They didn't take her seriously - and Wendy was a nurse for 30 years.  

Finally they found what they thought was the problem.  Tumors in the lung attaching to the ribs.  Weeks later it went back to the original issue.  Steve was having stomach pains, not eating or drinking, lost weight - was just skin and bones, unable to stand etc.  They found out it was cancer in the stomach.  Which was what Wendy originally thought was where the problem was.

He rallied about a few days before Thanksgiving.  That was on a Sunday.  On the Tuesday it would be their anniversary.  Wendy thought he was going to die a week before that as they rushed him back to the hospital and the doctor said he had a week without IV, or two weeks with IV.  He went home for Thanksgiving and for the anniversary.  

I had a feeling.  I thought he didn't want to die just before Thanksgiving and their anniversary.  That he would do it a few days after.  

Then last Wednesday (week after) Wendy came to the park - Steve died yesterday.  She had brought him back to the hospital on the Monday (week after Thanksgiving).  She had gone home Tuesday night, telling them to call asap.  Wednesday early morning, he died quietly and without her there.  The nurse said he passed peacefully.  I knew, and she kinda knew that Steve would do it when she wasn't there.  She hoped to be there but he had other plans.  Was just like him.  Hugs.  

I hope to see her again soon so I can give her the card as I don't know her address.  

These are the cards:

For Anne - (lost her father)

For Wendy - 

I thought they both turned out well.  

Sunday's Krystal's Colours will be these cards too.  Just an FYI.