At this point in our journey, I find it difficult to put the next phase into words, so let me share with you, a little bit about Doug.   He loved hunting, deep sea fishing, and all the things that "men" like to do.  What set him apart from the "typical" man was the fact that he was this very manly man, and yet was a kind and tender hearted individual who would do anything for you.   And then there was his storytelling.  He had this way of telling a story that captivated his audience and kept you on the edge of your seat to the very last word or laughing so hard, your sides ached (even if he was just telling you about his trip to Wal-Mart!).  And he always had a story to tell about the adventures with his best friend since childhood, but more like a brother, Rusty.  We kept telling him that we could all be rich, if he would just write that book about the Adventures with Rusty. 

Early on in our relationship, as my family was just getting to know Doug, we were having a family get-together and I remember the moment that "sealed the deal" with Doug, as far as my family was concerned.  My niece was pregnant at the time and she had decided she wanted to cast or mold her very pregnant belly.  So she is lying in a recliner, while my sisters and Mom are layering her belly with this "papier mache" type process.  Doug is standing back, watching, and the next thing you see, is Doug right in the middle of all these women, helping make this mold.  They still talk about that moment and that is when they fell in love with him.

Another great memory that instantly comes to mind when I think of him is how he would get in the kitchen with me and help me cook (never had to ask him to help me) , especially on weekend morning, cooking breakfast together.  I might add, he was a GOOD cook.  He actually intimidated me the first time we cooked together.  I was frying chicken and I was a little nervous when it came down to making the gravy, so he just jumped right in there, made the gravy, and it was absolutely the BEST gravy I had ever eaten. 

In February of 2010, Doug had been having episodic pain and discomfort, increasing in intensity over a two week period. February 13, we had plans to go out of town to spend time with his daughter for the weekend. Although I encouraged him it might be better to stay home, he insisted we go. He somehow made it through the weekend, returning home on Sunday, February 14. His pain was now constant and intensifying by the hour. I suggested we go to the emergency room, but he did not want to go. Neither of us got any sleep and finally at 5:00 a.m., he agreed to go to the ER. Our wait to be seen by a doctor was within an hour. Doug began describing his symptoms to the doctor and it was decided that an ultrasound would be the first step. I watched as the technician began scanning his abdomen area and my heart began to beat faster and faster as she began marking multiple areas on the screen....liver, pancreas, adrenal gland. I am not a physician, but it was apparent to anyone that something was wrong. I immediately began trying to calm myself down, trying not to jump to conclusions of the worse. But, it was easier said than done, as I had lost my Mom to pancreatic cancer just five years prior...This couldn't possibly be happening again. The technician finished and we went back to the examining room and waited for the doctor, all the while, keeping my concerns to myself. When the doctor returned, he told us there was something behind the liver and he wanted to get a better look at it with a CT scan. After the doctor left the room, I remember telling Doug that I was not going to tell him not to worry, because it was obviously something to be concerned about, but whatever it was, we would get through it together. The scan was performed and we were sitting side-by-side on the bed when the doctor returned. And when he said, you have a rather large mass in your lung, as well as numerous spots on your liver and adrenal gland, I could not believe what I was hearing...You have cancer and it has spread. I held Doug's hand, my heart was pounding, and neither of us could say anything...We just sat there, silent for what seemed like an eternity....And this is where our story began....