My name is Jeff...

On December 2, my wife, Leslie and I were talking as we laid in bed together when suddenly she said she was having an asthma attack and needed her inhaler.

I ran to grab her inhaler from her desk and when I returned she was really struggling to breath.

I ran to get her nebulizer and was frantically getting it set up for a breathing treatment and I could hear her really struggling to breath.

As soon as I handed it to her, she was unable to breath it in and I immediately asked if I needed to call 911. She was unable to speak and just shook her head "yes" panicking.

I called 911 and was frantically trying to comfort her while I was on the phone with the 911 operator.

After I hung up, I held her in my arms looking in her eyes and began repeating as I held her face in my hands, "I love you...I love you...I love you." She was unable to breath but mouthed the words "I love you, too."

After she responded she began to pass out and I have never felt so helpless as I held her in my arms.

The paramedics arrived just as she began to drift away and they immediately began CPR and officers removed me from the room.

I was breaking down as I prayed for God to save my beautiful bride of 43 years.

After 45 minutes, they began to move her from our bedroom to the ambulance.

At this time, one of the paramedics informed me that

they haven't been able to get a pulse for over 30 minutes.

I was so distraught already over what was happening to my soul mate, and I couldn't catch my breath as tears poured down my face.

Our dear friends came to pick me up as I was in no condition to drive at this point.

When we arrived at the hospital, I jumped from the car and ran into the emergency room to be with my bride.

I was weeping uncontrollably, as I tried to talk and give my wife's name.

My oldest daughter, Sarah, ran in after arriving at the hospital and held me as we both wept.

They starting escorting us to a private room, but I could barely walk at this point. My daughter helped me to the room and I panicked even more realizing that one of the hospital's chaplains was our escort.

Through my tears I began saying to Sarah, "I don't like this. I don't like this"

When I asked the chaplain about my wife, she said that the doctor will be in to update us on her condition as soon as he was able.

As I feared, my precious bride had passed away.

I am completely devastated. She was my world, my love, my counselor, my encourager, my best friend. Gone from our journey together in the blink of an eye.

My heartbreak is beyond measure.

I had a 20 year term policy on myself that began in October 2005, with a $100,000 rider on Leslie. Our term policy expired in October only 6 weeks ago. After the 20 year term was over, the premium was going jump to over 7× what we were paying for the last 20 years, so we were no longer able to afford it.

If you are able, I am in need of your help. I need to take care of my sweetheart and I need time to process through my loss. I am so lost without her.

Thank you so much for all of your kind words and love to our family during this difficult time.

Rest in peace my beautiful bride.

Forever My Beautiful Bride

- Jeff