It happened so fast... Renee has passed

Thank you all for helping me with this journey. My wife Renee (Nay)died in her sleep last night. Luckily we had told our four children that while we hoped to stave off death, that things could unravel. Unfortunately my wife thought she had a few months left. The doctors were stunned she went so fast. But I knew last night she was nearing the end. Even I though was surprised to wake up in the middle of the night and not hear her familiar breathing. Oh God what a day this has been!THere is only one thing worse than telling four young children that their mom does not have long to live... and that is that their mom is dead.

Below is somthing I found on her nightstand that she recently wrote:

UNLUCKY(with a strikethru on the UN)

When I was first diagnosed with lung cancer, I asked why? What did I do? The people in white lab coats with concerned smiles and sympathetic smiles said, “We don’t know, you were just unlucky.”

When faced with a disease that will certainly take your life much younger than you ever imagined, “unlucky” seems such an inappropriate word.

If I write a book, it will be called, UNLUCKY(Strikethru on the UN). One thing my journey with cancer has taught me is how lucky I am.

I married my best friend thirteen years ago, and he has made all this bearable. His strength and love is one of my greatest blessings. My beautiful children are each unique and a blessing in every way. Friends and family have stepped up and helped with meals, money, prayers and love. I have three degrees, have traveled to Europe, the Bahamas, Alaska, Australia and much of the US. I have never been hungry or without a home. My church family is extremely caring and a true model of God’s love.

In my book I will CHOOSE to focus on the lucky. My time is full of joy and love.

- Renee (NAY) Lampman

Thank you everybody. And thank my good fortune(yes, I am an athesist)to have had my wife.

Ben PAUL Lampman