Blogs

“Getting to Know Sue Clifton, Dooney & Bourke”: A...

Beth's Amazing Journey #3

by - edited

Beth and I decided early on that we would try to make her “chemo days” good days. In fact, whenever Beth had to go to the Abrahamson Center in downtown Philly we made it a date. We would get up early in the morning and try to beat the rush hour traffic. After meeting with the doctor, we would wait for our chemo suite to be assigned. It is amazing how people who are fighting cancer are drawn to each other. Beth and I made many friends in the waiting area.

One couple that I’ll never forget was Margie and Steve. Margie had been fighting cancer on and off for over five years. One day as Beth and I got into an elevator Margie said to me, “Aren’t you Dan from QVC?” We struck up a great friendship that day. Margie was such an outgoing and kind-hearted woman. She loved Beth and would always tell her to keep fighting and to keep her faith. Steve was more of the quiet, behind the scenes type person and he would often say to Margie, “C’mon dear you have bothered Beth and Dan enough for today.” Of course, we would say, “Steve, we love you guys. Margie can talk all day and we won’t mind!” Margie always brought extra snacks and would always offer us food. One day this past summer we realized we hadn’t seen Margie and Steve for a while so we asked the nurses about them and they informed us that Margie had passed into eternity. I remember how sad Beth and I were and my heart immediately went out to Steve. Of course, the thought crossed my mind that I might one day be in his shoes and sure enough here I am.

Beth and I had a routine that we actually looked forward to. As soon as she would get checked into the chemo suite, I would go down to a little bakery/soup kitchen that was located in the lobby of the building. I would always get Beth’s favorite: chocolate croissants. We used to pick these up on our way to work in Chicago so when we discovered that they had them it took us back to our early days of dating. (As I am writing this, I can barely see the computer screen because of the tears. I miss those days and I miss her so much.) I would bring up the chocolate croissants and warm them for about 15 seconds in a microwave in the kitchen area by the chemo suites. We savored every bite together. Chocolate croissants will always be my favorite. There was no place on earth I would have rather been than with my Cakies eating chocolate croissants in a chemo suite in Philadelphia.

Beth’s treatment would sometimes take most of the day, so around 1 p.m. I would go back down to that same place and get two large tomato basil soups. This was our other favorite and it was usually our lunch entree. I loved the way Beth enjoyed the soup and croissants and I remember thinking there would be a day when I would miss the little things like that. For the little things are actually the big things in life.

Beth was everybody’s favorite patient. I heard it from her doctors, physician’s assistants, nurses, receptionists, schedulers and anybody else we came in contact with during her three-year battle. She would always ask people about their lives and their families. She especially loved seeing pictures of their children and grandchildren. If any of our nurses had children Beth would ask to see pictures and then she would show them photos of our grandsons, Cole and Gavin. I remember one of the nurses was planning her wedding and Beth told her what a beautiful bride she was going to be and how she would pray that they had good weather. Our doctor’s father was battling cancer and she would always ask about him and tell our physician she was praying for him. I remember one of the chemo nurses telling her that she was supposed to be taking care of Beth and making her feel better and yet, Beth always made her feel better. My wife was just that kind of person. For that reason, and many more, I know how blessed and fortunate I was to spend thirty-seven years.

Beth had such an ability to make other people feel so important and so loved. I know she did that for me, our children, our grandchildren, our friends and everyone she came in contact with. I know over a dozen people who considered Beth Wheeler their very best friend. She was mine.

I am quite emotional today as I write about this special lady that I called Cakies. She made me a much better person. She made us all better and I know that God is happy to have her home. I can see her sharing stories and pictures of her family, especially her grandsons in heaven. Beth loved all regardless of their position in life. I remember one time in Chicago we were attending the local Emmy awards in the early eighties. It was quite a glamorous affair. She walked right up to Oprah Winfrey and told her she was upset because she could never get through to talk on the air during her show. Oprah laughed and they had a nice little chat. Beth could make anyone feel right at home whether it was Oprah or a “stranger” sitting alone at a wedding reception. I will love Beth forever and I miss her every second of every day.