Moving into a new season of life with happiness
How I'm taking steps forward after losing my husband in 2022
Over a year ago, I met someone. Darren James came into my life at a point when I was questioning whether I could build a life with another man after losing a spouse.
My late husband, Aubrey, and I had been married for almost 27 years before he passed away on May 22, 2022, from complications of hereditary ATTR amyloidosis.
After he was diagnosed in 2013, his health deteriorated. During his final nine years, my life as his caregiver was occupied by making sure that he didn’t give up on himself. I had to confront a range of emotions and accept that I’d outlive him. He wouldn’t see our kids graduate, he wouldn’t walk our daughters down the aisle, and we wouldn’t grow old side by side.
That was the reality we had to face. It wasn’t easy, but we both persevered and tried to stay upbeat in our own ways.
By and large, Aubrey’s faith kept him hopeful. No matter how bleak the outlook was for him, and despite the immense pain he endured from neuropathy, he stayed positive. His smile hid his affliction, agony, and heartache.
A second chance
Jaime Christmas and her soon-to-be husband, Darren James, hold hands. (Photo by Jaime Christmas)
Now that nearly two and a half years have passed since our children and I laid him to rest, the sadness has subsided, though grief still rears its ugly head every now and then. Overall, we’re all trying to move forward with life and build on his legacy. We hold on to his resilience and try to mirror his practices of working hard to achieve the best outcome and prioritizing family unity.
Moving into a new season of life requires letting go of the past, particularly distressing and hurtful experiences. Those negative situations can affect our present and future.
Now that I’ve fallen in love with Darren, I’m mindfully releasing past tribulations to embrace the promise of a wholesome relationship.
This second chance to build a life with someone has been an incredible blessing. At the end of November, I’ll once again walk down the aisle and have a wedding band placed on my finger.
As American author and television writer Jill A. Davis wrote, “Second chances do come your way. Like trains, they arrive and depart regularly. Recognizing the ones that matter is the trick.”
Note: FAP News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of FAP News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to familial amyloid polyneuropathy.
About the Author
Comments