Love and Loss

I was overcome with sadness today as I watched a wife drop off her husband at the clinic for treatment.  She helped him bring in his stuff and then kissed him goodbye and I almost lost it.  The husband has stage IV cancer and I have watched him literally waste away the past couple of months.  Although he is bravely fighting cancer, I feel like it is a battle he might lose.  My heart just went out to his wife because I can't imagine what she is going through.  As with all my patients, I try to put myself in their shoes (social work term: empathy).  My best friend lost her husband several years ago and my heart still goes out to her because I know that there is not a day that goes by that she doesn't miss him.  When her husband passed, I also lost a dear friend and I cry whenever I think about him so I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for her.  Having a spouse pass away is suppose to be the greatest grief there is and I can definitely see how this is.  A spouse is your other half, your world, your best friend and confidant.  The person you share your triumphs as well as your failures.  The person who knows the good, the bad and everything in between but loves you nonetheless.

People who know me and know my quirks, know that I love and collect quotations.  One of my favorites is Winnie the Pooh, "If you live to be one hundred, I hope to live to be one hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you".   This quote is everything I feel for my husband.

So today I took a moment to think about those who have lost and the woman in my clinic who might lose her spouse.  Even though my husband can get on my last good nerve, I thank God for each day that he allows me to spend with Dave.  It is amazing how God shows us our blessings when we can lose sight of what is important sometimes.