
So, Once again, we find ourselves trying to say "Good Bye"! Seeing another from out "CLUB" finishing their battle with this unfair disease. Today, my friend, Richard Perkins finished his battle with cancer!
No matter how sick Rich was, he ALWAYS thought of me when we spoke. Always said things like..."don't worry about me, how are YOU! You have had to deal with so much!" And the whole time, I knew how sick he was...how close he was to completing his battle.
Rich (and his sister Sharon) came out to support Day By Day Hope Foundation when we were in Connecticut for the Breast Cancer Awareness Photo Shoot. He came out to support ME! I was so glad to see him and so sad to see how this disease was hurting him! He came out in his pink shirt and we shared a great day! I picked him up later in the evening and we spent the night reminising with old friends and sharing hugs and a closeness as if we had never been apart. I will treasure that day forever!
Years had come between us and we traveled different roads...but ended up in the same place...battling cancer. It was a bond I wish we could have avoided! I wish my friend, his sister Sharon, didn't have to say good bye to her brother...a brother that she stood by through EVERYTHING with a relationship not every sibling is blessed to have. She will take with her the memories of a man she loved and cared for...a man that was more then a brother...he was her friend. I am sorry you have to feel this pain my dear friend!
My memories of Rich will always include a soft, loving, sensitive man who loved to have fun and was always the life of the party. Always had a joke to tell and knew how to tell them! Through these last months we kept in touch, sometimes by phone or on Facebook and he always managed to show that sensitive, loving side by showing his concern for me and the fun side by telling me jokes and ALWAYS making me laugh...I knew he was laughing through the pain! He always told me how proud he was of what we were doing with the foundation and his kind words will forever be with me.
So, we continue to move forward as we say good bye to another friend, a loved one...knowing he is no longer feeling the pain that cancer brought to him. I wish you peace my dear friend...sleep well with out pain. Know that I will do what you said...I will continue my battle for as long as I can...and when my battle is through...whenever that may be...I will see you again and we will share a drink, a laugh...another hug.
Once again, please take this as an awakening...Life is short, health is a gift, love is what brings us through it all...So PLEASE...Hold those you love a little closer tonight, always give forgiveness freely, remember that tomorrow is never guaranteed. And always remember to pay it forward and be there to "love someone
through it" when ever you can!! That is what this foundation intends to do...to honor all those people who have finished their battles...we will do what we can to "love someone through it". We will continue to do what we can ease the burden cancer places on a family...the only way we know how...day by day!
I Love you Rich! I Love you Sharon! Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and that I wish I could be there right along side you to "love you through" this pain...I am so sorry!