Posted by Mike Domingos on November 06, 2000 at 13:26:33:
I am writing to share about a couple of the groups available in the Dallas area and about my story in hopes that it might help whoever is faced with this journey that we have all traveled.
Two years ago my wife Virginia was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. She was eight months pregnant with our son Mitch. Mitch was born by C-section and Virginia's surgery was a few days later. She hemorraged during this surgery and died on November 14th, 1998. I was a 29 year old dad faced with raising a newborn son and 4 year old daughter on my own. I joined a support group for my daughter and I was the youngest one there by at least 10 years. Eventually we had the opportunity to start a young widow and widowers support group at Medical City in Plano. This is how I met Susan. On June 26th of 1998 her husband Eric died in his sleep from an enlarged heart. He was 29 at the time. They had three daughters of which Allison the youngest was only 3 months old when Eric died. Some of us young widows and widowers started getting together for cookouts, movies and things like that and this how I get to know Susan. We started out as friends but started dating in August. On New Years Eve of this past year, two families that had been torn by tragedy became one when we were married in Las Vegas. We now have five children ages 8,6,4,2 and 2. Since this time we have become facilitators for the Journey of Hope support group in Plano. In Romans 8:28 of the bible it is written that "Paul had faith that good would come out of everything". As I read the messages on this board I see where many others have done the same thing and while we have all had to endure the pain of losing a loved one we have been able to contribute to those that are just now going through this. Bless those of you who are facing this journey now and know that you are not alone.