"I was awakened this morning by the phone at 5:30. It was one of the ICU nurses saying I needed to get over there. Dave had coded and they had his heart restarted, but didn't know how long he would last. I got there with about three minutes to spare, just enough time to hold him, entwine his fingers in mine like we always did, look into his eyes and tell him how much I loved him. I don't know how much of Dave was still there, but it looked like there was some spark of recognition. Then he was gone. I stayed there, kneeling over the ICU bed crying, smoothing his hair and beard, and even kissing his forehead for over an hour. He made me so happy for so many years, we planned so many more -- 53 was way too young. He always said he was the lucky one for having me in his life. I always had to correct him that he was wrong, I was the lucky one. There appears to be nothing they could have done, the endocarditis was too advanced and the heart muscle too weak."