Today Heaven Gained An Angel (December 14, 2024)

Today, at 2:07 PM, heaven welcomed an angel. Not just any angel… but a guardian angel. Ali, my wife, my partner, my everything, passed away this afternoon surrounded by her family. Her fight with stomach cancer, which began in April this year, has come to an end.

Cancer is the cruelest thief. It does not discriminate; it does not show mercy. Ali fought it with every ounce of strength she had. She was relentless, determined, and brave. Yet, no matter how strong the warrior, cancer often takes more than any human can give. Today, it took her.

Ali was surrounded by love at every step of her battle. Both of our families stepped up in ways that words can never fully express. Her parents cared for Avalynn and Liam so that I could be with Ali at Vanderbilt for her treatments. Without their help, we would have never been able to manage the chaotic and exhausting schedule that came with fighting this disease. My family, though miles away in New Hampshire, visited when they could and supported us from afar, ensuring we had what we needed during the hardest months of our lives.

Ali’s sister and I made a pact early on, we were never going to leave her side. We didn’t miss a single appointment. We were there for every consultation, every chemotherapy session, every scan, and every moment of waiting for news. That support was echoed by so many others, friends, coworkers, and even strangers, who poured love into our lives. We received meals, gift cards, messages, calls… small gestures that reminded us we were not alone. That Ali was not alone.

But now, as I sit here, grappling with her absence, I find myself looking back. Back to the beginning of our story, when it all started.

I met Ali at my first real job after college, working at TS3 Technology in Franklin, Tennessee. She was on the production floor with her mom, building wiring harnesses, while I worked in the office as a program manager. I noticed her beauty from afar, day after day, working diligently at her station. One day, summoning every ounce of courage I had, I awkwardly introduced myself. I was so nervous, but she smiled that smile that would one day light up my entire life.

We exchanged numbers, and soon we were texting and talking on the phone. It wasn’t long before I asked her on our first date. Dinner was at Olive Garden, followed by a movie, Lucky Me. The movie was awful, but it didn’t matter. Sitting beside Ali, laughing at how bad the movie was, made it perfect. That night, I met her parents for the first time. There was a bit of a language barrier, and at first, I felt so out of place. But they were kind, warm, and welcoming, and before I knew it, my nervousness melted away.

That was the start of something beautiful. Before long, we were a couple. Then came Liam. Then marriage. Then Avalynn. Our lives intertwined completely, and we built a family... a life... together.

Ali and I did so much in the years we had together. We traveled to Laos, her homeland, where I learned so much about her culture and heritage. We traveled to New Hampshire to visit my family. We went on a cruise, went to Orange Beach in Alabama, and opened our home to friends and family from near and far. We made a house a home. We raised two beautiful children. We laughed so much. We cried when life threw challenges our way. And through it all, Ali was my partner, my rock, my heart.

She was the kindest, most selfless soul I have ever known. It’s impossible to imagine a world without her light. But I see her in Avalynn’s smile. I see her in Liam’s gentle, curious spirit. They will carry her legacy forward, and I will do everything in my power to honor the woman Ali was by raising them to know her love, her kindness, and her strength.

Both of our families are committed to helping me ensure that Avalynn and Liam grow up surrounded by love, even in Ali’s absence. While nothing can ever replace their mother, we will fill their lives with joy, stability, and all the support they need to thrive. Her family and mine will stand together, united in her memory, to raise them the way she would have wanted.

The weeks and months ahead will be unimaginably hard. Grief is a heavy thing, and life without Ali will never feel the same. But I know she would want us to carry on. To find beauty in the little things. To keep moving forward, no matter how broken we feel inside.

Ali… thank you for loving me. For trusting me to walk this life with you. For being the incredible mother of our children, and for teaching me so much about love, patience, and kindness.

You were my everything, and you always will be. Rest now, my love. Heaven has gained a guardian angel, and I know you’ll be watching over us.