Stories of Other Loss
Life's Love Lost
by N. G., Carmel, U.S.A.
On June 25, 2001 I lost my husband of 21 years to a glioblastoma. I am writing my story in hopes of helping my husband's parents - he was an only child. I am 45 years old. My husband Carl & I have been together since I was 15 - he was 17. We married, had two beautiful boys (16 & 12). We were truly soul mates. He was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor 4/28/00. On 5/02/00 he survived surgical reduction of the tumor. The benenfits lasted 7 weeks. At this time he could function relatively normally. By 7/7/00 he returned to the hospital for a second surgury. He now faced multiple complications requiring chest tubes, brain shunts and finally a respirator. Carl still fought back. Two weeks on a respirator, he begged us to remove it. We did. He fought. He improved, went to a nursing home to gain strength and deal with new found blindness. Oct. 1, 2000, Carl came home blind and bedridden. His sons & I tended to him 24 hrs. a day. We cryed, we laughed and loved one another deeply. To our despair the tumor could not be held at bay. On June 25, 2001 our battle was lost. It is for Carl's parents that I share our story. My children & I have been attending support groups and receive family therapy. We are finding them helpful. My In-laws are not open to support. They are able to share their grief on a very minimal level. Their pain is just growing and intensifying. If anyone could offer some help, I would be sooo appreciative. Thanks so much for listening. God Bless!
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