“No one dies with dignity.” - Jason Isbell, “Elephant,” Southeastern, 2013.

Mike’s life was much more than his death. I’ve shared his life this year. His death is what I’m left with.

He wanted to live. His doctors offered more treatment, and he accepted. He was a patient and a doctor. He didn’t question his doctors.

That’s where death without dignity happens.

Inoperable esophageal cancer is incurable. He stopped treatment on Halloween, 2022, and died two days later.

I got stronger as Mike weakened. My heart grew – his faded. He died peacefully, finally. 

He suffers no more. For that, I’m grateful.

He didn’t only have that orange bucket hat. This blue one had a wider brim that offered more sun protection. But as you’ve seen over the last year, he much preferred the orange one.

This photo was taken on a bridge over Indian Creek Road in Monroe County – a favorite place we often walked together. I sprinkled some of his ashes into the creek from that bridge last year.

And I haven’t been back to walk there since.

After a year …

most of the time, I’m fine. 

most of the time, I’m good.

most of the time, I miss him.

Here we are – Hilton Head, 2018.

Before.

I use two ‘befores’ now. 

“Before he got sick” is any time prior to June 14, 2019 – the day we learned Mike had cancer.

The other, of course, is the day he died, and means the period between June 14, 2019, and November 2, 2022. 

He’s wearing a jacket, the ever-present orange hat, and his little half-smile. He didn’t love the beach [first]before, but came to love it [second] before.

He was willing – for me, the beach lover – to see the beach with new eyes. I’m grateful for beach memories with him.

When Mike took up a cause, he rarely abandoned it, and that was especially true for Physicians for a National Health Program. He fully supported PNHP with his money, his participation, and his voice.

We went to rallies throughout WV and also traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with our federal representatives about Medicare for All. 

As a doctor, Mike saw the flaws in America’s health care system on a personal level. He watched insurance companies charge more and cover less.

PNHP amplified his voice. You don’t have to be a physician to be a member. You can join here.