I’m going to share a quick story about one of the last great memories Kaitlyn left me with during her final days. When I’m feeling a bit down, I’ve found that it makes me feel good to share stories. I’ve told this story to a few people, but not many.

In early December, Kaitlyn and I went ring shopping to buy me a ring for our wedding. We had moved the wedding up from May 25th to January 5th because with Kait’s health, we weren’t sure if we’d make it to that date in May. So, Kait and I picked out a ring for me. She had me step outside the ring store because she wanted to make a special request to the jeweler lady that I wasn’t supposed to hear.

Over the next week or two, Kait’s health declined. By the time my ring was ready to be picked up at Kay Jeweler’s in late December, Kait was bedridden. She slept a lot. Because of the developments in her brain and the tumors growing up there, whenever she woke up, we were never sure if she’d be able to have a conversation with us or not. Sometimes she could have a small conversation, sometimes she couldn’t.

Well, the ring arrived, and it was picked up and brought back to me during the day. I told Kait that I had it, but I told her that I wasn’t going to look at it just yet. She was sleeping at the time, and I didn’t think she heard me. So, I set it on top of her dresser next to her bed, in its box to be looked at later.

Later that evening, I was sitting in a chair next to her bed. It was just me in the room for a brief moment. Kait happened to wake up. The first thing she said was, “Did you read the inscription on your ring?” I said, “No. I haven’t looked at it, yet, because I wanted your permission. Do you want me to read it?” She said yes.

So, I grabbed the box off of her dresser and opened it, revealing the ring we had picked out a few weeks earlier. I pulled it out of its box and read what she had secretly told the jeweler lady that she wanted inscribed on it. The ring said, “I will love you always and forever.” How sweet. After reading that, a few tears rolled down my eyes. I looked at her and said, “You are the sweetest damn thing in the world,” and then kissed her cheeks.

I was not expecting her to say anything more. But, much to my surprise she replied, “Travis Dean, I will love you always, always, always.” With a smile and a few more tears, I said, “I will love you always, too, sweetheart.” Kait then asked me, “Does that scare you?” Shaking my head, I responded, “No, it makes me so happy.” She smiled softly.

She then closed her eyes. I put my forehead on her forehead. Then I hugged her, pressing my cheek against her cheek. All I wanted to do was pick her up and squeeze her as hard as I could. I couldn’t do that of course.

That truly was a special moment for me, for us. At that point, conversations were rare, and when they did happen, it took much of Kait’s energy. But, she found the strength to give me a moment that I will cherish forever. It was one of the final great memories I had with her, one that I’m very thankful to have.