Allyne O'Banion Jackson

allynejackson@suddenlink.net

NEW: I'm sharing three pictures that were taken at a gathering on New Year's Day 2016 (for my 70th birthday that occurred the next day). The pictures are of me with my three wonderful children, me with my very fun grandchildren and all of my immediate family members in attendance. The main reason I'm sharing these pictures is to reinforce how important time together can be.

We lost my middle child, Eddie, the 43-year-old man on the right with his wife, son, twin daughters and dog. He looks happy and healthy enough. He graduated from West Point, was an Army Ranger, paratrooper, etc. and an environmental engineer. The VA had been treating him for an old lower back injury. Two weeks after these pictures were taken, Eddie went into a Houston hospital because he couldn't breathe. The tests done at the hospital showed he had saddle pulmonary embolisms and adenocarcinoma (likely originating in his lungs) all over his body. He never smoked, and there is no family cancer history. Eddie passed the next week without leaving the hospital.

I know Eddie is okay and that the rest of us will continue loving him and each other. I'm writing this to remind us all to be so very grateful for the time we have with our families and friends!

With love,
Allyne