A Love Story Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

Dan is the love of my life. I am not one prone to effusive pronunciations of feelings, but in this case, it is true. We met over 20 years ago through such a random cascade of events that I’ve always felt we were truly fated, meant to be.

When Dan was diagnosed 2 days after Valentine’s Day in 2024 at the age of 47, it felt as though our whole world collapsed onto itself. A lifetime of events to celebrate with our daughters (then 9 and 11) no longer certain, all our deferred dreams dissipated…it was a lot to grieve and digest simultaneously. 

Within the year, Dan started losing his ability to speak, and his physical limitations increased to the point that I was forced to function largely as a single parent. Though offers of help came in regularly from friends, family, and our wider network, I couldn’t even imagine how to accept that help—how to work it into our life—and so I powered through, shouldering each new responsibility with as much grace and humor as I could muster.

In the fall of 2025, I found out I needed surgery and was forced to reach out to all those who had been waiting in the wings. In doing so, I discovered a love wider and deeper than I could have imagined; this time not from within our small family, but from without: from every circle of our friends and family. From our newest “dog park” friends, to parents of our daughters’ friends, to our closest friends and family; people came from near and far to help Dan and the girls, walking our dog, cooking meals, taking our 8th grader on high school tours, shuttling our kids to after school activities, and generally wrapping us in love, care, and attention. I still haven’t found a word that fully encompasses the deep love and gratitude we felt for and from these people who showed up beyond our expectations (and continue to do so today).

This Valentine’s Day, it doesn’t feel like enough to honor my husband, the center of my life. This year, I want to honor and celebrate our community of friends and family who have centered us in THEIR lives and shown us how truly expansive love can be. -Stacey D.