My Journey With Health And Fitness – Time To Celebrate A Good Life

I have no preamble today, I will just get to the point. Yesterday as we were at one of our favourite restaurants planning to have a few beers my brother suffered a massive heart attack and died. I won’t go in to all of the details but just know that he went quickly and had spent the last 6 weeks of his life in a place he truly loved.

Drew had a hard life. He had some significant learning disabilities that made things challenging for him. And because of that he was horribly bullied everywhere he went be that school, volunteering or work. He eventually made the best of that by telling his story in courses I facilitated that dealt with bullying in the workplace. Anyone who heard his story was stunned at what he had been through and many would tell him he changed how they looked at the way they treated people. He wasn’t like me in that public speaking was terrifying for him and yet he did his presentations to try and help others.

Drew also developed serious health issues. Despite not being overweight and having a very physical job he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in his mid 30’s. His specialist told us that he was sure Drew was one of the 20% that inherited the disease. And like our Dad he got all of the side affects of diabetes only worse. At 42 he had his first heart attack with his 2nd one when he was 51. He had 2 femoral bypasses, was in stage 4 renal failure and 3 years ago lost a leg because of an infection. Karma just couldn’t seem to give him a break.

I posted yesterday on my FB page as well as a community page. My sister also did a post. I don’t know how I can explain the amazing accolades that I have seen since these posts went up. Despite all that he had been through the way Drew seems to be remembered is that he was an immensely kind, caring person. While I always knew that I didn’t know that the rest of the world did as well. The number of people who have responded about what a wonderful person he was kind of shocked me though I don’t know why. I guess it was because I always thought people didn’t see him the way I did but apparently many of them did.

And while I am still crying as I write this and know that I will continue to cry for days, I am going to celebrate my my little brother who was also my best friend. He was an amazing person and while my heart is broken I keep telling myself that he died after spending 6 weeks in a place he truly loved. Chinese food tonight Drew, you know how that will be paid for.