Love & Loss

Who says you can’t have it all?

Hmmm….I think it needs a question mark after it, perhaps?!

I survived losing my high school sweetheart in my second year of college. I was 19 and had the priviledge of having Tony in my life for about 4 years. I had recently come home for a visit on Valentines Day weekend, when Tony surprised me by taking me to pick out my engagement ring. 10 days later tradegy struck. While I was out of state back at school, his family’s home filled with carbon monoxide killing Tony, and nearly both parents. His then 16-year old sister awoke around 9 a.m. finding her mother passed out and lying halfway on her bed, her father had gone in the living room to sleep on the floor by Tony on the couch as he had displayed several signs of sickness overnight. All symptoms presented as food poisoning to the family, as they celebrated his fathers birthday out to a restaurant the night of the occurance. His father, Walt, had to watch his son take his last breaths on this earth, and was unable to help him as he, himself was paralyzed from the poison. Sara Jean, the sister, called 911 immediately, but it was too late for Tony to be spared. This day impacted me and changed the course of my life dramatically. However, I will always treasure that special kind of love, you may only have the priviledge to have once in a lifetime, and many memories will keep Tony Girardi close to my heart for eternity. Please promote CO detectors to help save this “silent killer” from striking to your very own loved ones.