A True Love Story

March 17, 2005

Harry was the captain of the high school football team. He was handsome and well respected on campus. Dorothy was a bit younger, an all A student and a bit on the reserved side. She was a looker, but, because of her shyness and humility, she kept pretty much to herself. That didn’t keep her from noticing that the boys, particularly Harry, noticed her. She liked that. She liked that a lot. Their families lived nearby, and it was through church and school Dorothy and Harry first got to know each other. In the beginning they were just friends, but as time went by, the spark of love could not be denied.

In 1931 Harry left Michigan to attend school at Valparaiso University in Indiana. While he was away, he could not keep thoughts of Dorothy from his mind. At home, Dorothy continued her studies and looked forward to the summers when Harry was back in town. In 1935, he became the first in his family to earn a college degree. During school months, the exchange of romantic letters and love poems kept the U.S. mail busy. Not long after, he asked Dorothy for her hand in marriage and soon they were wed.

They were head over heels in love. Their marriage and life were filled with the typical bumps in the road, but both Harry and Dorothy were hard working and resourceful. He landed a decent job, and soon they owned their own home and were the proud parents of two beautiful girls. In 1950, their third child, a son, was born. Harry was ecstatic and, anticipating an All American in the family, bought “Little Harold” a football while he was still a tiny baby.

The love Dorothy and Harry shared was boundless. Life was good. All they had ever hoped for was coming true. Then without warning, at the young age of 45, Harry suffered a crippling heart attack. Their world was turned upside down. The pain and discomfort Harry experienced was more than a man should endure. Even after months of hospitalization and ongoing medication, he was unable to run and play with the children as he once did. His dream of personally teaching his son to be that all-star football player was fading and fading fast. Two years later, a second massive heart attack took Harry’s life. Dorothy’s one true love was suddenly gone. Her broken heart would never heal, and the children would never know the joys and experiences with their dad that might have been. As for Dorothy, Harry was her one and only, and she would never love another. It was her faith and the love for her family that kept her going.

That’s not the way readers of romance novels want the story to end. Unfortunately today, that ending, even with all of our medical advances is still far too common. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases rank as America’s No.1 killer, claiming the lives of nearly 38 percent of the more than 2.4 million Americans who die each year. An astounding 70.1 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease!

Being an author who writes about matters of the heart and the son of Harry and Dorothy, I now have a unique opportunity and the personal motivation to make a difference. In the months and years ahead, I will be teaming with the American Heart Association to spread the word on what we can do to prevent heart disease and stroke, and I will help to raise funds for further research. I encourage you to visit www.AmericanHeart.org and learn more about the role you too can play. Check out, “You Are the Cure!”

By the way, “Little Harold” did get a chance to play high school and a little college football. What about Dorothy, you ask? Well, after my father died, mom put all her energy into making a modest living and raising her three children. She never dated, much less married again. Last month, she celebrated her 89th birthday. To this day, a picture of Harry sits on her nightstand. It is usually the first thing she sees in the morning and the last as she drifts off to sleep at night. Her dreams are of spending eternity with him. Now that is a true love story.

Wishing you love, romance, health and happiness,

H.T.

In memory of
Harry     February 7, 1912 – January 26, 1962
Dorothy     February 21, 1916- December 1, 2006