Ben said I should write.
It’s been a while.
A lot to do, back to working full time, and taking care of two households and Dad.
One good thing, I exercise nearly every day, but have several new routines, Tuesday Yoga, Saturday Tai Chi and Sunday Spinning.
Grieving still, professionally, with the kids, and by myself, at unexpected times when a small something triggers a memory …
The holidays
Three of us guys were here for Christmas. It was the longest period I’ve spent with Ben in years. I was impressed with his discipline, writing a paper left over from his research job and studying Spanish in preparation for a special 3rd-4th year clinical program in an underserved area in Flint, MI. He put up the Christmas tree.
We had a lot of hot pot … my favorite!
Rachel, John and Jack drove up to Milwaukee for New Years. Rachel was preparing for a mere half marathon and ran outside with John. Jack is every where, walking, running, climbing, exploring, kicking and throwing the ball, babbling … and so, so happy. Teri would be chasing, snuggling, loving every minute ...
Teri’s photomontage remained up on the walls comforting me, and Ben helped me take it down and put it into an album.
Friends Manu and Anjali, Kari and Ron, Monica and Kevin, Tony and Martha, Steve and Mary, Paul and Dean (in Madison) invited us out. Bob and Melissa visited from the Harvard Sackler Museum.
I watched some of Teri’s saved TV programs … Glee, South Pacific … and listened to her Christmas albums …
Like her tooth pics, I found her nail file on the dining table tonight … again I’m not sure how it got there. I don’t use it.
Rachel, John and Jack are moving to New Jersey
As of the first of the year, John was hired as a corporate strategist for Capsugel, a company that was just spun off from Pfizer and makes capsules for pharmaceuticals. A very exciting opportunity to help a company grow rapidly. Teri’s dream fulfilled. He has been working in Morristown, NJ and flying back on the weekends. Rachel and Jack are preparing for the upcoming move east to northern NJ, about 45 minutes outside of NYC.
New Yorkers be ready to welcome them!
Teri’s award
At the first year pediatric GI fellow’s conference in Ft. Lauderdale, I had an opportunity to memorialize Teri and her final teaching moment.
In three weeks since I send out the request letters, we exceeded the $10,000 mark, closing in on the Foundation goal of establishing a permanent endowment that will fund the award in perpetuity ... We may even be able to offer funding for pilot educational awards.
Teri was a natural with young children. She always leaned toward the youngest younguns. As she trained to teach progressively younger children starting with elementary age, then Montessori toddlers-preschoolers, and finally Montessori infant-toddlers … she always felt the greatest teaching efficacy was as early as possible. I kidded her that she would eventually end up doing Montessori in utero!
This award, the first one for excellence in education and designated specifically for a young faculty member, would just make sense to her. She would like it. She would be embarrassed. But she would like it. It is fully tax deductible.
NASPGHAN Foundation – Teri Li Education Fund
NASPGHAN
1501 Bethlehem Pike
PO Box 6
Flourtown, PA 19031
I thank all of you who donated or are planning to donate, and once I get the list, I will thank you more personally.
Pensées
Teri died in peace.
As hard as it was for me to accept, I realize that she made the right decision for herself. In hindsight, she suffered so incredibly much …
I continue to discover things about her. I still get cards from hospital personnel who share memories of her.
I’m still learning life lessons from her.
She has surrounded me with beauty and her aesthetic touch.
Supporting her fully in body and soul for the 19 months was the best thing I’ve every done period.
Teri was the absolute love of my life.
