Sad news...

Hi everyone,

Just wanting to deliver some sad news about Steve.  He passed away this afternoon at about 1:30. 

Yesterday morning I was on my way to the hospital when my cell rang.  I was expecting that Steve would be discharged and that I would finally get him home.  A nurse asked me to please come to the hospital as Steve was having trouble breathing and his b/p was very low.  She said he was being assessed by the Intensive Care Unit.  When I arrived there were fifteen people in his room.  Lots of excitement.  Tests showed a blood clot had travelled to his lung and his kidneys were shutting down.  A lengthy conversation ensued and the end result was that Steve did not want to be kept alive in the ICU, he wanted to be kept as comfortable as possible.  We moved to a private room and all monitors and meds were stopped.  My parents, brother and I were with him the entire time.  It took 24 hours.  He just was so strong and such a fighter.  He didn't want to give up.  We all assured him that he put up a strong fight and told him how much he meant to us.  Nothing was left unsaid.  Watching him pass away was the most difficult thing I will ever do in my lifetime.  I think it was peaceful and I hope he did not suffer.

My family has been a wonderful support.  But I know that they are not always going to be there.  I just don't know how I am going to get on with my life without him.  He was the most wonderful husband....  I just loved being with him....I feel so lost.

I plan to stay involved with CSN, like Tina and Cynthia.  I want to be able to help others to benefit from what I have learned over the past 27 months.  I want as much good to come from Steve's experience as possible.

His corneas have been donated for transplant.  He would be so pleased to know that he has helped someone gain their sight.  His organs have been donated to science.  He really loved to help people and I think he would have been very proud to know that others will benefit from his loss.

Thank you to you all.

Love Chelsea