A Love That Lasted Beyond Goodbye, A HUSBAND’S FINAL GIFT OF LOVE, When my husband, Gene, got his diagnosis, I had no idea. He was at his father’s house when he found out he had only six weeks to live. He called me later that day, but I’ll never forget how calmly he shared the news. His brother had called just fifteen minutes earlier with his own terminal diagnosis. Gene even joked that they were in a race to the end….. See more
When my husband, Gene, got his diagnosis, I had no idea. He was at his father’s house when he found out he had only six weeks to live. He called me later that day, but I’ll never forget how calmly he shared the news. His brother had called just fifteen minutes earlier with his own terminal diagnosis. Gene even joked that they were in a race to the end. Despite the pain of that moment, Gene stayed strong for me. He began setting everything in order, quietly making sure I would be okay when he was gone.
A few days later, on his 56th birthday, Gene came home from work after sending out his farewell emails. I’ll never forget the small celebration we had, cake and candles on the table. When someone asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he smiled and said, “Very short books.” That was Gene—always able to find the humor, even in the hardest times. He worked to settle things for us, and one week before he passed, he proudly told me he’d paid off the house. I could see the peace in his eyes, knowing he had taken care of me.
But what I didn’t know was the last surprise he had left for me. Months after he passed, I started finding little notes, hidden all around the house. “Spend the money and enjoy yourself,” one said. “Move on, you don’t need my car,” said another. But the one that touched me most simply read, “I will always love you.” Gene had hidden these notes in places only I would find, places I wasn’t ready to clean or touch. Even now, I still find them, and every time, it feels like a piece of him is still here with me.
