IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT I TELL YOU OF THE LOSS OF MY HUSBAND, PATRICK, ON SAT. FEB. 10TH FROM PRIMARY AMYLOID OF THE KIDNEY AND HEART. HE HAD OTHER EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ADDED TO HIS DEATH BUT THE KIDNEY FAILURE, DIALYSIS AND AMYLOID AND WALDENSTROMS MACROGLOBULINEMIA WERE THE REAL CULPRITS.
HE FOUGHT A VALIANT FIGHT WITH COURAGE AND DIGNITY SINCE SEPT. 2002 WHEN HE WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED AND WAS ALWAYS POSITIVE ABOUT HIS LIFE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO WITHOUT HIM AFTER ALMOST 48YRS. OF MARRIAGE TO A MAN OF GENTLENESS, COMPASSION, COURAGE, DIGNITY AND MOST OF ALL TREMENDOUS LOVE OF LIFE AND FAMILY. MY HEART IS BREAKING AS I THINK BACK ON HOW HE SUFFERED AND NOW HE IS ANOTHER STATISTIC IN THE AMYLOID LIST OF FATALITIES THAT THIS INSIDIOUS DISEASE HAS TAKEN.
I HAVE ASKED ALL MY RELATIVES AND FRIENDS TO SEND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RESEARCH DEPT AT BUMC. THAT WAS MY HUSBAND'S WISHES. HE FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT FINDING A CURE FOR THIS DISEASE AND HELPING OTHERS TO LIVE.
-- JUDY O'DEA