Saturday, July 25, 2009

4:21 PM

Andre died today in my arms. He was handsome until his very last breath. I've thanked him for the 9 wonderful years we've spent and for making me happy. I love him so much and I'm going to miss him dearly.

33 comments:

Brother Ted said...

I am so sorry. What an amazing love you had for each other. He left this life with you holding him in his arms. He was wrapped in love. There is not much more we can ask for, as we leave this shell called our body.

Karen said...

I am so sorry. I truly thought he would somehow pull through this. I wish you support and strength from your friends during this time. I can tell that you loved eachother very much. Take comfort in all the great memories of your time with Andre. I'll be thinking of you.

tim's wife said...

Oh Ed,
I am so, so sorry. Andre fought so hard and was so brave. He was an inspiration to so many who are in this fight. My thoughts and prayers are with you. God bless.
Denise

Anita said...

I've been following this blog since last year (I too have Multiple Myeloma). I had been checking for updates during this very challenging period of Andre's life. When I saw today's title, I held my breath and when I read your post I felt so, so sad...for Andre and for you. Andre was very brave and you were a loving, loving caregiver. Hold onto your 9 years worth of wonderful memories. I wish you great strength to get through this difficult time. Please accept my sincere sympathies.

Paul said...

Ed, you have my sincere condolences. Andre was a friend and an inspiration to me. I'll miss him and I can't imagine how badly you must feel. If there is anyting I can help with, please call.
Paul S.

John said...

Ed;

My heart is broken. Peace to you.

John

Roobeedoo said...

Oh Ed, we are so very sorry. Although perhaps prepared for the worst this is a terrible shock and it is teribly sad. Andre was such an inspiration for the MM fighters of this world. Although we never met, we will miss him so much. Look after yourself and DO keep in touch. There's always a welcome for you in Scotland!

Anonymous said...

Dear Ed,

I am deeply sorry to hear that Andre has died.
I have been following his blog for the past couple of years, enjoying his description of his motorbike journeys through parts of the USA I have visited myself (I am from UK). He was optimistic and positive, and obviously lived life to the full. He became an inspiration to me as I have Monoclonal Gammopathy which is a pre-myleloma phase.
God bless you both, May he rest in peace.
Dora - England

Anonymous said...

I'm so very sorry. You will miss him so much.

I'll be thinking of you.

Teresa

spiritwoman34atmsn.com said...

Dear Ed.... my heart is heavy for you. I join the many who knew him on this blog and who will miss his lively humor and frank revelations about this horrible disease.
The love you two shared does not end, though I comprehend a little how much his absence is grieving you. I will continue to send Reiki to you both to ease this transition pain, for I am sure his spirit is, and will be, ever with you.

Anonymous said...

I'm so very, very sorry for your loss. He will now no longer suffer. I too have been following his whole story, and somehow it looked like it was all going to be OK.
We will remember him always.
Monica

Paul Y. said...

Very sad news indeed. I never got to meet Andre but I did get to know him a bit over the last year. Even though he was dealing with some very tough issues he always had time to answer my motorcycling questions and offer some sage advice.

Ed, I can't begin to image what you are feeling. I know the past few years have been an emotional roller coaster for you. I only hope that you can find peace soon.

I know Andre will live on through the people he has touched in his life.

Susie Hemingway said...

I have been so very saddened to read this news today. Andre was such an inspiration to us all. My prayers are for you now, your great love and devotion for him throughout has been wonderful. I hope you now find the peace you so deserve.

Sincere Regards
Susie Hemingway ( fighting for Hamada also suffering with MM)

Anonymous said...

Ed,

We are so sorry. I was deeply moved when Hendra told me this morning. We recounted the wonderful times with Andre and how much you loved each other. We wish that you weren't so far away so we could be with you and try to comfort you. Please call often.

David

Anonymous said...

Dear Ed--

Andre was so kind earlier this year when I'd written to him telling him his blog was inspirational to me and that I'd sent the link to my father, who had MM and had received some difficult news.

My father died in April. I was watching Andre's fight from the sidelines these past months and so hoping for his recovery. No one deserves what he had to deal with these past days, certainly no one as positive and upbeat as he was.

Ed, it was clear from anyone who read this how much he loved life and how much he loved you.

I am feeling an incredible hurt for you from a wound that is still fresh. May whatever they learned from Andre and my Dad bring them closer to a cure, and soon.

I hope the two of them bump into each other in heaven to trade war stories and laugh.

To your enduring strength and willingness to share to bring strength to others these agonizing days. That is courage.

lyn said...

You and Andre were soul mates that much is obvious and true love never dies. God bless you both until you meet again.

Ron said...

Ed,
I am so sorry to hear this news.
Andre was one of the very few people in this world that won my trust and respect. I would often think "I want to be like him when I grow up".
Losing a friend like him breaks my heart.
Please let me know if there is anything Ray or I can do.
Love from us both.

Broom said...

sorry to hear this, Ed. You and andre have been through a lot. I applaud your commitment to each other and hope the best for you and everyone else suffering from his loss.

Anonymous said...

My deepest condolences to you.

Winta

Anonymous said...

Oh Ed, this is so sad. I'm thinking of you both. love, Beverley

Anonymous said...

My deepest condolences

Daria said...

I'm so sorry.

Barbara said...

Ed.

So sad to read this news. with no posts for nearly a week, I just knew things must have been challenging. Andre is now in a better place, no pain, but smiles looking down upon you. Be well.

Unknown said...

Ed, my prayers are with you.

I have always found this sentiment to be beautiful and healing:

"Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy."

Andre, shine on.

Hammer said...

The comments here are a good representation of the type of man that Andre was and the impact he had on people's lives.
Those he touched through direct face to face interaction and those touched via his blogs and various other internet postings.
Everyone that came in contact with Andre went away better for it.
He was honest, forthright, funny, cutting, outspoken and a truly great man.
I've missed his postings on forums we've both frequented and continued to hope that he would recover and I'd have opportunities to appreciate his wit and intellect.
That's never to be and I'm sad because of it.
Ride on Andre.

Gary said...

Ed,

Words cannot express how I feel for you at this time. Having only smiled and said “Hi” now and then to you and Andre at the Hutch I can’t claim to know either of you. However I do understand what the two of you have gone through and what you might encounter.

The reason I saw the two of you at the Hutch was because my wife of forty-two years, Valerie, was an MM patient too. Over the course of five years she went through three transplants. The third, and of course final transplant, resulted in GVHD too. She was an inpatient at UW Hospital from last September until she passed February 02.

I can say to you Ed, in all sincerity and honesty, I’ve been with you and Andre all along since I was introduced to your unselfish sharing of so many of your life events. It’s a well-worn phrase however it is the absolute truth – if there is anything I can do for you or anything you care to share of discuss regarding where you and I have been or where we are going please let me know.

Gary – Seattle

Imglc1@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Ed,
so so sorry to read that...

We've been following your blog since last January, when my MM was confirmed (at the age of 38) and you guys have been such an inspiration for my husband and myself...

Our deepest condolences

Michela&Jean-René - Geneva, Switzerland

Charity said...

Ed,

I would like to send you a big hug and my sincere condolences. I was so sad this morning to hear about Andre and couldn't bring myself to come to the blog until now. I'm glad I waited because it gave me the opportunity to read about some of the many lives that Andre has touched and I'm so happy that he had you by his side.

You have both been a true inspiration. Andre with his strength to fight through watever life threw at him and you with your strength to support him along the way.

Though too few, I have very fond memories of Andre and I will miss him dearly.

Please take care of yourself and embrace every new day knowing that you have a love that many people never find. He will be with you always.

Charity

Joe said...

Andre was a great inspiration and just a very compelling racer. I remember stopping by his place in Dallas to look at a motorcycle and we spent most of the evening kicking tires on all his bikes and even his beloved Cadillac hearse- though I can't remember "her name." Andre was a racer. RIP friend.

Anonymous said...

Dear Ed,
I grew very fond of Andre during the time he lived in Rowlett, Texas, and I will always consider him a part of my family. I followed his blog and truly believed his optimistic attitude would overcome this insidious disease...and it did. MM may have made his life shorter, but it did not diminish his lifes quality or impact on others. I often thought of Andre when I saw those silly plaques that talked about not living life too safely, but rather, sliding into the grave sideways, yelling, "What a ride!" Andre experienced his life with just such a philosophy, and his death did nothing to diminish that. You are in my prayers.
Debbie Crosby

Anonymous said...

Dear Ed,

Andre was so kind to me when I wrote to him about my Dad, who also has MM. We were trying to gather information about a stem cell transplant. We exchanged several emails and he was so honest and informative, he told me a lot of helpful information and was so encouraging during a very frustrating time. He was such a fighter and had such a wonderful spirit.....I am so sorry for your loss. I will always remember his kindness. I hope they find a cure for this awful disease soon.
You are in my thoughts and prayers,
Tracie

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