Few of us are ready when misfortune knocks on the door. We definitely weren’t in early June, 2023 when Ann, my spouse of 51 years, was advised she has an inoperable cancerous tumor of the duodenum. Most cancers of the duodenum is uncommon. Lower than one-half of 1 p.c of all cancers settle in that small organ within the higher stomach.

Much more uncommon, is that this identical most cancers killed Ann’s solely sibling, her older sister Betty, in July of 2022. After Betty died, we had talked about getting imaging on Ann’s stomach.

I want we had however on the time we thought there was no approach lightning might strike twice on the identical precise spot. Clearly, being advised you solely have a number of months to dwell isn’t just a knock at your door, it is a sonic growth.

Ann’s most cancers blindsided us. We had simply returned in Could from a stunning two weeks in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean the place we celebrated our wedding ceremony anniversary and began planning for our subsequent journey. With us, there have been all the time a half-dozen locations we nonetheless needed to go to.

For practically a half-century, we tried to take three annual journeys. We coated tons of actual property that included one-hundred international locations and each state. Even after Ann acquired the devastating information that early June morning, we nonetheless dreamed of 1 final go to to Hawaii, a spot we beloved. As Ann grew to become weaker by the day, it quickly grew to become very clear our solely journey was to the physician.

Our dream of possibly yet another yr collectively shortly evaporated. It was time to “get our affairs so as.”

Like most of us, planning for the inevitable had not been a precedence. It ought to have been.

Between the physician appointments, Ann crammed her remaining days doing what she beloved: working. Her resignation was the week of her dying. Colleagues praised her as a straight-talking skilled, assured and good, a pressure to be reckoned with.

I keep in mind her as a courageous and loving soul who honored me with many years of happiness. As I stated at Ann’s Celebration of Life, we had been made for one another. Ann died August 17. Analysis to dying was solely 10 quick weeks. At instances, my grief is overwhelming however I push ahead in the future at a time.

My hope is that others can study from my expertise. Life can change right away. Do not look ahead to misfortune’s bang in your door. Get your affairs so as now and when you’re at it give a giant hug to the one you like!