The Story Ends

If you have been following along or knew Denise you already know how this story ends. Denise was diagnosed with a Brain Tumor in December of 2005. This totally changed her life in many ways. Now began the numerous doctor appointments, the tests and finding the correct medications and treatments. Over the next almost 5 years she endured the radiation, chemo, constant needle injections, consumption of numerous medications morning, afternoon and night always with the hope of stopping the tumor. The radiation shrunk it for a few years but when it started growing again there was no stopping it. As it grew it slowly took away her ability to remember, write, read, walk and talk. Denise passed away one year ago today.

I have given you a brief summary of Denise's life to try to show you who she was. To me she was my precious child but she was also many things to many people. Her beautiful smile and infectious personality attracted people to her. But now on the anniversary of her passing it is time I let her rest in peace. A day will not pass when I won't think of her and miss her. I can not bring her back but hopefully I can make what she had to endure mean something with my Denise's People Foundation. Hopefully because of her I can help find a cause and cure for Brain tumors.  I know this is something she wanted to achieve.

God gives us each a gift of life to cherish from our birth.
He gives us friends and those we love to share our days on earth.
He watches us with loving care and takes up by the hand.
He blesses us with countless joys and guides the lives we've planned.
Then when our work on earth is done, He calls us to his side.
To live with Him in happiness where peace and love abide.
Our thoughts are ever with you, though you have passed away,
And those who loved you dearly, are thinking of you today.

 You fought a courageous battle and I am very proud of you.
I will love you and miss you every day of my life.
Rest in peace my beautiful Sweety DeeDee.

A Mature Woman

After graduation Denise went to work at Kaufmann's where she met her future husband.  Denise was married on a record breaking winter day.  I must be getting senile as I don't remember whether it was January or February,  I think it was February.  It was so cold the day of the wedding that some guests couldn't attend because they couldn't get their cars to start.  Regardless of the weather the wedding was a success with a most beautiful bride.

This was a time of change in Denise's life.  Besides settling into married life and making a home she also changed jobs and was now working for a bank.  Her life was busy and full and would be even more so very soon, Denise was going to have a baby.

Her son arrived in June with another son born five years later.  Motherhood was something she took great pride and joy in.  She doted on her boys and she would do and did do anything she could for them.  Most of her time when not at work she spent with them.  Evenings she would sit and play games with them or help them with their homework.  Summer weekends were spent at camp where she would go fishing, boating, swimming and in the evening sit around the campfire with them and friends.  As they got older you would find her in the stands routing them on for various sports they participated in .  But she was much more than just a pal to the boys, she was a responsible parent.  She taught them the traits on how to grow up to be good human beings which they both learned quite well. 

As the years went by, Denise continued working for the bank.  This was a job she truly enjoyed and through many mergers she stayed on and worked her way up the ladder of success to become an Officer of the Bank.  She became very close to many of the people that she worked with and they seemed to love her too. 

Although her children and her job were constant and rewarding her marriage was not.  Problems had developed that could not be resolved and a separation and divorce were in the works.  She moved out and rented an apartment for her and the boys and a year later bought a house.  It seems she had just settled into this new life when her world came crashing down.  (to be continued)