It was on June 13 1999 that Danielle woke me up around 9:00 AM, she had tried to get up and had fallen. She said she couldn't move her left side, so I called her mother who lives next door to come help. When she got there she told me to call 911 which I did. When we got to

the "ER" we were told that Danielle had had a stroke we all thought that she would be okay. But over the next two months Danielle had 3 more strokes, 2 heart attacks, infection in her blood, fungus in her lungs, and finally her colon burst. On August 2, 1999 Danielle left me, her mother, and our three-year old son. What Danielle had was very rare and it has to do with protein C, which is one of the things that keeps your body from making too many blood clots. Danielle was the strongest person I have ever known or ever will know. The doctors said that she had more stuff wrong with her than anyone they had ever seen but she kept hanging on through all the pain and surgeries. I know she isn't hurting any more but my god I miss her so much, and Danielle I will always love you.

Here is a poem for anyone who has lost a spouse:

WHETHER IT WAS CHANCE OR THAT THING CALLED FATE THAT BROUGHT YOU TO ME

I REALLY CAN'T SAY AND I DON'T BELEIVE IT REALLY MATTERS

FOR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD YOU, NOT

JUST IN MY ARMS BUT ALSO IN MY HEART

AND SHOULD THE WINDS OF TIME BLOW HARD ENOUGH TO TAKE YOU FROM MY ARMS

YOU CAN REST ASSURED THEY WILL NEVER TAKE YOU FROM MY HEART

SHANE HULSEY