My journey to this place really started back on March 4, 2016. My husband, Chris, had gone to the doctors due to a diverticulitis flare up and had to get a scan. The scan came back not only showing the infection from the diverticulitis, but also showed “something weird” going on with his lymph nodes near his lungs. This immediately made my heart sink. I knew something wasn’t right. This led to a follow up scan on Monday, March 7th which confirmed our worst fear, it looked to be cancer. This scan led to several other appointments that were more and more heartbreaking; Chris had stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. I still remember standing in CVS face to face with Chris and him saying to me, “I don’t want to die.”



For two years Chris and I went to MGH for chemo every third Monday for treatment. He fought hard, he rarely ever complained, even when he got blood clots and had to start giving himself daily injections of blood thinners. I admired him for being so strong even when I knew on the inside he was scared and sad and worried about everyone he would be leaving behind. 

 

On Friday, February 9, 2018 we went to the emergency room at MGH because Chris spiked a fever and was having back pain. It was pneumonia. He was in the hospital; making jokes with me, the doctors and nurses, all while struggling to breathe, struggling to wrap his head around what was happening and just hoping to go home. On Friday, March 2, 2018, I got a text from Chris saying “they are moving me to the ICU, the beginning of the end.”  That was one of the hardest days ever. I remember standing on one side of his bed while the doctor tending to him said “we will put you on a ventilator and do all we can, but if we are unable to help you, we will keep you comfortable until you pass,”. I will literally never forget that moment for as long as I live. 

 

Chris passed away on Monday, March 5, 2018 just after 6pm. 

 

So this is why I fight. For Chris and for all of the people I know who have been impacted by this terrible disease. They never got a choice if they wanted to fight, they just did. 

 

Please support this cause, this effort and all of the incredible people who fight….Every. Single. Day.