The past week and a half has been difficult. I lost a dear friend, Stuart. This man was someone that I met 10 yrs ago...we dated off and on for a few years but just were better friends than more. His passion was writing. He wrote countless poems and stories...his greatest desire was to be published. Stuart was a teacher...devoting many many years to the underprivelidged children of West Haven. He was someone that I knew I could count on day or night anytime and he would be there. This mans heart was huge and he spent years and years caring for his ill father...refusing to put him in a nursing home. Stuart did it all...at home. He even had a Hoyer lift to help get his dad in and out of bed each day. His life revolved around caring for his dad. Sadly, his father died last September. Stuart was diagnosed with kidney failure just 2 months later...he never had the chance to live HIS life. The peritoneal dialysis made him feel worse. His stomach was so bloated and he struggled for just a simple breath most of the time. Stuart and I had lunch, 2 weeks before he passed. He called me that morning on my cell as I drove to his house...said he just didn't feel good and wanted to cancel. I told him I was on the way and I am coming. He needed to get out of the house. I am so thankful, I still went ...not knowing that was the last time I would see him alive. I am thrilled he got to meet Carolyn and show her one of his favorite places....Savron Rock. It's a beautful place...on the beach in New Haven. I have a great picture of the 2 of them. Stuart said he looked like a bum in this picture. He certainly did not look like himself....face all bloated from the steroids he was on...belly bloated from the massive infection brewing that he didn't know about...the infection that killed him. Skin pale...but he was smiling. He always was able to smile and got a big hug from Carolyn that day when we said goodbye.
