After making the donation I sent the link to this thread so they could see the outpouring of feeling SPI members have for Dub. Dub's sister, Autumn sent me a thanks and continued with an email I thought many here might enjoy..., I sure did. So, I asked her permission post a copy here and just got the OK. Big hearts run in this family...
"Lance,
Thank you again for your generous donation! Tracy should be sending you her email soon.
And, thank you for sharing the link... Reading it brought a river of tears streaming down my face but it also brought a lot of joy... it really makes me happy to see all the folks at SPI that were there waiting for him to pull through - just like our family was. I was at work attending a conference with the Admiral and kept checking my phone for an update. I really wish I would have been there at the hospital. When I saw the 911 text come from Tracy, I stood up and briskly walked out right in the middle of the Admiral’s speech... everyone was looking at me like how dare you walk out right now!!! I’m sure Dub chuckled at that... with his big booming laugh... But at that moment in time, I just knew he didn’t make it. I instantly felt sick to my stomach, weak in my knees, and almost fainted.
The surgery went OK... but at the end, Dub had a massive heart attack. Since he was still heavily medicated, he didn’t feel anything. The Doctors did their best to bring him back... but Dub saw the beautiful light on the other side and decided to go home. We’re pretty sure he is fishing with friends, Dad and Grandpa right now.
I loved him so much! I don’t know if you know this, but in August and September my brother helped me move from North Carolina to Washington state. We did a big road trip with all my belonging and towed my SUV. He even taught me how to hook up the trailer - and safely load/unload the SUV. And... he made me drive at least 1/2 the distance so he could check the forum and catch up on his emails.
Once we arrived in WA, we had to go fishing. In fact, the last time we saw each other, we went fishing off the pier at Illahee Park in Kitsap country. I’ll always cherish that memory. He was such a great guy.
And loosing him is hard. Just as hard as it was loosing my Dad.
On our road trip he told me all about SPI. He really did LOVE the Forum. And what he said in the post that you shared with me was absolutely true. He spoke about and checked the forum all the time. So, please let everyone know, he really did love you all!
And ... as Dub would say, “Peace, love and Dixie.”
Thanks again for sharing!
With blessings, prosperity, and love,
~Autumn"