Susan M Lewis

July 19,1940-April, 2011

My wife, my love, my best friend, mother of our children and child of God

An everlasting love story and note written to me on our 20th wedding anniversary

December 28th, 1983

Dear Milton,

Our marriage has been blessed with gifts of lasting beauty – A home of full of joy,

happy children and a love that will reach into eternity. As I see our family grow, I

can see our love grow too. With each new day God lets me know the blessing that

I have in you. Happy twentieth Anniversary.

All my love,

Susie

Susan Macdonald Lewis was born on July 19th, 1940 in Schenectady, NY to parents Mary and George Macdonald, Sr. and sister to George Kirkpatrick Macdonald, Jr. (deceased) After the death of her father at age 14 the family moved to Ft Lauderdale. Sue attended Ft. Lauderdale High graduating in 1959. After high school she attended Columbia Bible College and the University of South Carolina.

Susie accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior while a young lady in High School. Her life has always been lived by putting Christ and others first. She led a Christ like example for her family and friends.

The first time I saw Susie at the university she was standing in line at the corner drug store and was cashing a check (as she has done all of my married life). I saw her at the cashier along with a mutual friend and thought I would like to meet her and invite her to a fraternity party. I talked to our mutual friend, got her phone number and the rest was history. We went to the party, after which she swore she would never see me again. I called her up several weeks later and invited her to go to the library and study. She agreed. This was the beginning of a beautiful, tremendous, sweet love story.

Sue and I were married in 1963 and we took a vow before God that we would remain married for “better or worse in sickness and in health.” With God’s help and guidance we have survived good times and bad times, ups and downs—though never anything as challenging as what we faced with her illness, but we have a responsibility to continue loving even when times are hard, even as God loved us before we loved Him.

Sue was a great mother always supporting three children in their activities. She was a lady of many talents a teacher, an artist, and a gourmet cook to name a few. She was an active community volunteer especially children’s charities such as Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Children’s Aid Club, Charity Guild as well the Beaux Art (Museum of Art). Sue took a leadership role in most of her organizations. Sue was an active member of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church since 1965.

June, 1999 Sue was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Two of our three children had graduated from college and were married and established in their careers; the last child would graduate in 2000. We were at last free of child rearing and looked forward to traveling and spending time at our condo in the North Carolina Mountains. During the first five years of the disease we led a normal life even though she was on medication and had movement in her hands. Sue even walked down the isle as the mother of the bride at my youngest daughter’s wedding in February, 2004.

After several years balance became an issue and Sue had several falls. A bad fall in August of 2004 totally changed our lives. We went from doctor to doctor in an attempt to find help and to reduce her level of pain with no success. Finally after a personal plea to a doctor’s nurse in a last desperate attempt to get relief, we were able to get an appointment at the University Of Miami School Of Medicine. Sue’s back was so badly injured the surgeons operated the next day. Fifty-two days after surgery and rehab she returned home. That is when my life as a “spousal caregiver” began.

Sue was required to wear a body brace anytime she was out of bed. Her clothes had to fit over the cumbersome body brace as I helped her dress. This brace was worn every day for nine months in an effort to protect her surgery.

During the back surgery, it was discovered she had a very rare bone disease, Gauches. This disease had caused her bones to become extremely soft, like mush it was almost impossible to do a bone graph. The surgeon installed rods and crossties running the length of her spine in an effort to stabilize her spine. Sue was required to receive Cerezene IV treatments every other week in an effort to strengthen her bones. Fortunately one of the few clinics in the world to provide this treatment is close to our home in Coral Springs, Florida. That was a true blessing for us.

Unfortunately, this was not her last fall. Even while she was using a walker and with an aide constantly with her, accidents and falls would occur, resulting in hip replacement March 2006, and a fractured Femur January 2007. Since that time she has been confined to a wheel chair. In December 2009, Sue suffered a stroke. A second occurred March 29, 2011.

In spite of her illness, Sue did have some good times and we have been fortunate to have good helpers (one outstanding aide, close friend to Sue and the family, Roslyn McBurnie, who has been with us for 6 years). Sue was able to go to lunch with friends at least 2 times a month with the help of Roslyn. We have loyal and understanding friends who joined us at a restaurant once a week. When Sue was able. Sue went to the hair salon weekly, but most of the time she sat in a chair in our family room. We had limited travel and always with an aide. All of this was really difficult for a strong willed woman who had been very active all of her life.

For my part, after many active years, I have found it very difficult and sad to see her just sit in the family room unable to be active with no interests or activity to pursue. After her stroke Sue lost the use of her right arm and hand and was unable to write her name. She was continually getting dates and times confused as well as people’s names. She was totally dependent on others to care for her, to perform daily tasks and she could not be left alone.

When Sue and I were married in 1963 we took a vow before God very seriously that we would remain married for “better or worse in sickness and in health.” With God’s help and guidance we have survived good times and bad times, ups and downs. We have stayed together by the Spectrum of Love, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Humility, Courtesy, Unselfishness, Good Temper, Lack of Suspicion, and Sincerity

Although we will miss Sue deeply here on earth, we rejoice that Sue is now in the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No more pain. No more suffering. Her love and her legacy live on with her family and friends. As Sue mentioned in the letter she wrote to me on our twentieth anniversary, we have a love that reaches into eternity. Our love does live on and I will be with her again some day in Heaven.

They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or

mourning or crying or pain. For the old order of things has passed away. To him

who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

He who overcomes will inherit all this and I will be His God and he will be my

son or (daughter).

Revelation 21: 3, 4, 6 Paraphrased

All my love forever,

Milton

Arrangements under the direction of Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.