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Jeremy's Life
Have you ever loved someone so much that you would do anything for them,
even if it took walking the world? When I was 14 years old, I fell in
love! Jeremy was 16; we had known each other our whole lives, but I was
just too shy to tell him how I really felt. We had always been friends,
but time went on and Jeremy graduated and joined the United States Air
Force. There he was a Crew Chief on the F-15's while stationed in Panama
City, Florida. When he finally returned I got up the nerve to actually
tell him how I felt. We slowly started dating and fell in love. One year
ago Christmas Eve we got engaged. Then the wedding planning process
started & our luck slowly started going down hill.
On May 3, 2003, a friend of Jeremy’s, Scott Siverly, 19 years old was
tragically killed in a two-person 4-wheeler accident. On May 17,
approximately one month before our wedding and one day before my wedding
shower, my cousin, Anthony Lee, 16 years old, was killed in a two-car
accident. One day before the wedding my dad’s brother, my uncle Carl, was
killed riding his bicycle in Indianapolis, Indiana, while training for a
marathon. We decided it would be best if the wedding would go on. The
wedding was beautiful. We couldn’t have asked for anything better. For
our honeymoon, we had planned to travel to the western & southern United
States. While on our honeymoon, $2,000.00 later the transmission and the
brakes went out on my car. Once we arrived back home our fall went really
well. We prepared for our first married Christmas together. It just
seemed like one thing after another, and it hadn’t even been one year
yet. I guess they always say the first year is the big test. It was
definitely a test. Jeremy was a 27-year-old very active college student,
enjoyed basketball, golfing, sports cars and being with family & friends.
He had red hair, very light freckled skin & always burned very easily. He
had also been known to have headaches, but by the middle of January, the
headaches got so intense nothing would take care of them.
On Tuesday, January 27 I finally took him to the emergency room. There
they did x-rays, Cat Scans, and MRIs. At that moment our lives took a
very big turn. Jeremy had a golf ball-sized tumor on the left-hand side
of his brain. In a matter of minutes, which seemed like hours, they were
rushing him to Carle Hospital in Urbana, Illinois, for emergency brain
surgery. On January 29, the tumor was removed in about two hours by Dr.
Walker Robinson. Jeremy was then diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. We
traveled many miles to try to find a doctor that could maybe give us some
positive news about this disease or some medicine that might help. After
the surgery Jeremy had repeat MRI's and Pet Scans, luckily nothing had
shown up yet. God had definitely been watching over us. Jeremy just
finished radiation, and since then we had traveled to Indianapolis,
Indiana, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Champaign, Illinois, and Rochester,
Minnesota, to maybe find that special doctor. The doctors gave him six
months. But Jeremy & I both believed differently, and that he could
definitely fight this. We were not giving up!
From the very beginning Jeremy had been more than willing to do whatever
it took to take care of this ugly disease. For about a year our luck had
definitely gone down the drain. But we have always kept our heads high
and just lived day by day. It had definitely brought us, our family, and
friends closer together and more aware of the dangers of cancer. We have
wonderful family and friends that have stuck by our side from the very
beginning. Jeremy had a very small spot on his left lung, and had found
two wonderful doctors by the name of John Kirkwood and Sang Huh. He was
fighting with all he had. He had just finished two separate weeks of a
treatment called Interleukin Two & Temadar at Pittsburgh University
Hospital, Shadyside, Cancer Unit. He had not given up and I knew he
wouldn’t.
We found out in April that we were going to be 1st time parents in January
which we were very excited about. It had definitely given Jeremy
something to push for. Our Summer went really well August of 2004 Jeremy
started having seizures. He had another spot on his brain, we opted not
to do surgery but decided on Gamma Knife, which was performed Aug 27,
2004. Jeremy had his 2nd brain surgery Oct 2004. Things were getting
worse, but we were still positive we were going to have this family we so
yearned for. Jeremy had his 3rd brain surgery in Dec 2004. All had been
performed by Dr. Walker Robinson. Jeremy did not want anyone else doing
his surgery.
The morning after Christmas Jeremy was not responsive & was very
lethargic. Jan 2005 I begged Dr. Richard Rak to do one more surgery. I
just wanted Jeremy to meet his one goal and that was to be here when his
baby was born. I knew if we didn’t do the surgery he would definitely not
make it. The odds were not good. Jeremy’s 4th & final surgery was
performed & he proved everyone was wrong again. He pulled through, but
this time he didn’t come home. Jan 5, 2005 I was induced. I just knew
there was not much time. With everyone working together, family friends,
doctors & nurses, Jeremy was able to see his baby be born. He was such a
proud father, you could just tell by the racing of his heart and the smile
on his face. Jeremy was then handed his little boy. No, it wasn’t the
labor we imagined, but it was a moment that I will never forget.
After that day Jeremy’s health declined. For insurance purposes Jeremy,
the baby & I, were moved by ambulance to the Casey Health care center
where we were taken very good care of. Jeremy’s family, friends & I spent
many long hours in that nursing home. We all knew our days were growing
shorter and shorter. On Feb 25 Jeremy’s blood pressure dropped
drastically but climbed back up. Over those last two weeks Jeremy’s
family, friends & I had to do something that we never thought we would
have to do and that is to say our goodbyes to Jeremy. It’s one of the
hardest things I think any of us had to do. By 4:00 that Sunday
afternoon, Jeremy started doing worse and at 11:55 p.m. Jeremy passed
away. Jeremy held his baby until the last few breaths he took.
Since then I have tried to start my life over. It’s not the married or
single life. I am raising a baby & trying to care for the both of us. He
brings joy to my life every day. I wish everyday Jeremy was here to see
his roll over, crawl, etc. But I know he will always be our own personal
guardian angel. Knowing that Jeremy fought with all he had and lived his
life to the absolute fullest brings peace to my life.
Jeremy & I have a wish and it is to let everyone out there know that
cancer is not something to mess around with. If you have the symptoms get
them checked immediately. Also when you’re in the sun make sure you wear
your sunscreen. Jeremy & I had our one year anniversary which was spent
traveling home from the hospital.
It sometimes stinks that life can definitely take a turn for the worse.
But you just make the most of it, pray, and hope for the best. It sure
makes you realize how precious life really is & how you should never take
a day for granted. It’s been a very hard year, but I don’t regret a day
of it I spent with Jeremy. I am very proud of him and lucky to have been
married to him the time I was. Sometimes you are just dealt a hand that
is harder than normal and you just have to hold your head and keep saying
I know we can do this and never give up. I wouldn’t have asked God for
anything else. Love is a wonderful thing and I am willing to do anything
it takes, even if I had to walk the world.
Thank you,
Natasha Davis |
