2010 Summer Newsletter

TO: Region VIII Committee and Members of the "Gymnastics Family"
FROM: D.J. Milem
RE: My Annie
This is an open letter to all of my "surrogate" family that my wife Ann and I came to know over these past 35 years. As you have probably heard she finally lost the battle with cancer and died in the arms of her daughter April at 1:30 a.m. on April 30th. We had a memorial service and a "celebration of her life" party at my house (just close family and 400 friends) on the 8th of May. That date was unfortunately the same weekend as several National Meets so our attendance actually would have been larger.
I am writing this letter to thank all of the people responsible for the huge outpouring of money and love that have helped her and myself financially and spiritually through this long and expensive ordeal. From the $25 checks to the large amounts donated from the Region’s Women’s Program plus the Boy’s Meet at Sun Country "Annie’s Meet" that the funds were all donated to her. All you folks probably don’t realize that Medicare runs out after 100 days so after that you are on your own.
Her ordeal lasted over eight months on this last bout with this illness. We thought we had cancer whipped three times but after the several bouts of Chemo treatment, Radiation, two Brain Surgeries, Radiation again, her Doctor finally said "Let nature take it’s course".
From home to Emergency Room, to Rehab Center, to home, back to E.R., to "Life Care,’" to home, to ER, to her final stay at Hospice she was a fighter and never gave up. Throughout the entire ordeal she never complained, no hair but a huge smile, she was "My Annie." til the end, when the three seizures put her into a coma that she never awoke from.
Again let me say thank you to all who have supported us through this nightmare . . may you never have to experience this . . . . DJ Milem