My goodness, where do I even begin? It has been a while since I had the opportunity to sit down and write. I have written so many journal entries in my head and it’s been hard not getting the time to use this outlet to help my anxiety. So much has happened in such a short amount of time, it’s crazy. I’ll try to keep it short.
Since you last heard from me we were still on the hunt for a new home. Ryan left to be with his father in NC for 9 days and I house hunted without him. I looked at 4 more homes and finally found one that suited us, and he trusted me. We tried to make an offer but the realtor said don’t bother because they are already negotiating a higher bid. So I kept looking and found another one, put in an offer, and it was accepted. We were no longer going to be homeless!
Since then I had to get the inspection on the new house done, then some repairs fixed from the inspection on our current home and then get estimators out to the new house for repairs needed there that were found by the inspector… all the while having Cicely on my leg non-stop, getting Erian to school and making t-ball games and practices on time, dealing with the mortgage company and DocuSigning a thousand documents, all on my own…sheesh, it was a lot. But Ryan made it back home after all that and was finally able to see the house in person. He loved it. I could now start the packing process. (The other house is still on the market by the way, smh.)
But a few days later on Wednesday, March 17 we received the call that Ryan’s dad probably wasn’t going to make it through the weekend. He went downhill, fast. Being a family of 4 it was too hard to get last minute flights, so the next morning, on Thursday, we jumped in the truck and made the 17 hour road trip to NC. We drove as fast as we could. Ryan’s sister was updating us and saying he was getting worse by the hour. Ryan drove faster. His sister was letting him know that Ryan was on his way. He’d be there soon. But my God did he hold on. He waited for Ryan.
We pulled into their driveway at 3:25am. I dropped Ryan off and drove 10 minutes up the road to my parent’s house and dropped the girls off with them, then drove back to my in-law’s house. His wife, 5 children and 2 daughter-in-laws (including me) were there with him as he took his last breath. I will never forget the heartache and feeling I had at that moment. It was truly one of the most saddest and gut wrenching situations I’ve ever had to witness in my life. After a tough 2 weeks and 2 days from his new diagnosis that his cancer had returned, he was gone.
My sweet, brave, strong, rockstar, father-in-law lost his battle with cancer and passed away in his home at 4:20am on Friday, March 19, 2021.
We spent the next week there in NC, spending time with family and friends and all those who loved my father-in-law. Countless tears were shed, many hugs were given and lots of memories were shared. He was a wonderful man, one Ryan described as “genuine” in his eulogy. I’ve known that man since I was 16 years old. Of course back then I didn’t know he would become my father-in-law 10 years later. But boy am I glad he did. He was the best. Loving, kind and always positive and encouraging.
A beautiful service was held for him a week later. At only 4 years old, even Erian took it hard. I saw so many people I hadn’t seen in years. It was hard to even be happy to see people because of the circumstance. It’s sad how death brings people together but when you are alive you don’t see them much….
Our lives will never be the same, and we will miss him until the end of time. RIP Wayne, I love you.
