My Life's Inspiration

The person who inspires me the most is my best friend, my lover, my boyfriend Jim. I met Jim one year after my husband died. He is a very caring, giving, loving, honest, and unselfish person. I admire his courage, his strength to endure no matter what, his battle with life due to pain, his optimism when all looks bleak, and his love for his family to carry on. He has changed my life in so many ways.

On June 9, 1989 Jim was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. His prognosis wasn't good unless he had a bone marrow transplant. We cried together and talked about how I would care for our children if he died. At first the news was devastating. Then good news came that his youngest brother was a perfect match and would be donating his bone marrow to Jim. His transplant took place at the Veteran's Hospital in Seattle, Washington on February 8, 1990. Jim did really well but had seen many die during his time in the hospital.

With everything that has gone on in Jim's life, he is still a strong, courageous, and determined person. He doesn't complain when he's in pain, which is everyday. He handles everything very calmly, never getting upset. He worries, but it never shows. He is the strongest man I know.

He is an inspiration to his doctors, friends, children, and me. He is so grateful to be alive. Everyday he wakes he is thankful that he has been given one more day to be here with his children and grandchildren. He says he is especially glad to be here with me. According to Jim, I am the one that has put up with him for all these years. It isn't hard to do when he holds his own and would give his shirt off his back to help others in need, even though the pain he endures everyday is getting worse.

He takes everyday as it comes, good or bad, never saying, "I wish this or I wish that." He is just so thankful he didn't die. Somedays when I find myself worrying or being sad, all I have to do is look at Jim and I know I have nothing to be worried or sad about. I am healthy but he is not, but you wouldn't know it by the way he acts. Somedays are worse than others, but he doesn't complain, or ask, "why did this happen to me?" I can't see the pain in his eyes, but I can see the love he has for me, our children and our grandsons. A never ending love no matter how much pain he's in. I just want to take it all away but I can't. It hurts to see him this way.

He is stronger than I will ever be. When I met Jim I wouldn't have known that he would change my life the way he did. For this, I thank him.