A Valentines Surprise - of Epic proportions

A History of Keith and Sarah

Keith and I have known each other for over 6 years.  We met online, dated for a few months, and then circumstances found us in a position to buy a home together MUCH sooner than we expected.  We threw caution to the winds, bought a house together, started a business together, worked amazingly well together, and were the best of friends.  Inseparable.

Over the years, we settled in to a wonderful sort of sympatico - we got along exceptionally well, rarely fought, but when we did it was with good conversation and communication, and as for things related to his health concerns, I ensured that I was as informed as I could be, so that I would be his closest and most effective advocate, should the need arise.

As you all know, the need arose.  And I rose to the challenge.  You have all followed Keith and I over the past month as things escalated to the point where I was seriously concerned that my best friend was going to be gone from my life.  I never wavered in my efforts to help him, and to help others.  There was no other choice for me.

This morning, I donned my only colourful item of clothing (hot pink), and went to the hospital.  Keith was not feeling well, had not had a restful night, and was in a lot of pain.  My first hour there was spent ensuring that he had hot water bottles for his sore arms and shoulders, and that his pain meds would start to kick in.



I let him rest in bed, and I was working at the computer when he told me that he wanted to reach over and touch me.  He had to push his table out of the way, swing his legs over the side of the bed, and I saw him grimace as the movement caused his pain to come back.  He walked two steps to where I was, and lowered himself down onto one knee.  As he took my hand, I looked at him and he very simply asked "Will you marry me?"

As an aside, throughout this and for the past few years, I have always referred to Keith as my husband. For all intents and purposes, he is.  We are common-law, and in the eyes of the government, we are married.   Keith and I both came from previous relationships, and certainly for Keith - he had no interest nor need for any sort of formal declaration or paperwork in order to prove how he felt about me.  Over the past few years, this has come up, and it was the one thing that he would not budge on.  We both agreed that this was the status quo, and that what really mattered - was that we were together and loved each other.

My first reaction was "are you serious?" - romantic huh?  But really, this man had told me repeatedly that he would NEVER get married again.  He had made friends promise to take him out to the barn if he ever did this again.  Thankfully, his two best friends have been informed, and have promised NOT to follow through on their promises.  I asked him why he was doing this, and he said it was because he really wanted me to be his wife.  He had had a lot of time to think while he has been going through this whole ordeal, and told me that he was so amazed at how I had handled the past few months, and the past month in particular.  He has been given a new life, and he wants to spend the rest of his life with me.  

I said "yes."  I love him.  

Somewhere out there, there is a family that I have to thank for this.  Thank you so much.  I wish that I could find a way to tell you how much this gift means.  I hate that it came at such a price for you - it is my daily prayer that you can find peace and know that your loved ones lungs are cherished.  

Valentines Day - 2013