sad news today

i got an email from our dear friend, ruthie, today. her husband was diagnosed with ALS about a year or so ago. these are wonderful friends to us-like family. every july we get together and celebrate the july birthdays, since there are 3. ruth and frank also celebrate their wedding anniversary. this month was their 30th - something i cant even imagine...30 years. it's wonderful.

we went over for our july celebration last friday since frank is no longer mobile. his ALS has slowly been progressing and he is now bed-bound and on oxygen 100% of the time. it was wonderful to see him as its been several months, but so hard at the same time. hard to see his health deteriorating so, but yet wonderful to see love in action between them. ruthie bought frank a bike horn so he could signal her more easily as he became weaker. he honks away when he needs her and she's not in the room - and she comes running to nurse her man.

the love they share is so evident and so precious. frank was doting on his wife last friday - telling our clan how there was no woman better than his ruthie.

tonight i just received an update from aunt ruthie - frank has slipped into a semi-comatose state. so sudden. last week he was telling his traditional joke, smiling and interacting with us. it's a precious memory now.