Kim with children, Tyler 6 and Allison 1 (husband Tim was taking photo)
Note from Kim : (May 15, 1997) It's been 5 months since Heath passed away and not a day goes by
that I don't think about him. And when I do, I always smile. Heath was such a special person.
We first met through BMT-talk. He had sent in a letter wanting info on MDS. He did not know for
sure what he had yet and it had not developed into AML. At that time, my father in law and my
very good friend Jill were both battling AML. Jill was getting ready for her transplant.
Something about Heath really stood out. Must have been his determination to beat whatever it was he had
so he could get back to his education and life. Heath was going to be a lawyer. And a damn fine one
he would have been. Anyway, I wrote to him and told him of some sites I knew of that talked about
AML and basically gave him some encouraging words. Well, that was all it took. Heath and I started
writing back and forth and knew we were meant to be friends for life. We even kidded that one day
when he had been practicing law for a long time and was well established and my daughter had finished college
(she's not even 2 yet) they would get married.
I finally met Heath in Oct. 96, when he arrived for his transplant. The minute I saw him
we gave each other a big hug. He was so wonderful. And his mother, she was just fantastic.
I knew Heath was going to have a successful transplant!!!
Oh, I almost forgot, before Heath came out, he had sent me a gift. A charm for a necklace. Actually, there
is a name for this thing. Its that coin that is broken in half and you each wear a half. ??? What is the name?
If you know, email me! Anyway, he sent me that and I ALWAYS wear it. People always ask me if my husband
wears the other half. I giggle and say no, ANOTHER man wears it!!
And he does. I have been told that Heath was buried with it. Im glad he has it. I feel like I have part of
him with me when I wear it. Sometimes when I do or say something silly, I think Heath may hear it and I look up
and just shake my head. I know, Im sounding like a crazy lady now but Im sure some of you can relate.
Back to the story... Heath had his Halloween transplant. Although it was only a 5/6 match, he went for it and was
going to win. And ya know what, he did. His transplant was a success. It was other complications that took his
life. Damn. It makes me so mad. I'll never understand why. I will just thank the Lord that there are people
out there (often strangers) that are signed up with the bone marrow donors registry. If there had not been,
Heath wouldn't have had a chance at all. I would not have met him. So much would not have happened. You see,
Heath touched so many lives. Everybody loved him. And we all miss him.
Heath, you touched my heart. Thank you for that.
Love Kim
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