Theresa and I began dating around September 1989. I use the word “dating” in the loosest sense of the word. Theresa had been diagnosed with breast cancer that summer; for the remainder of 1989 and most of 1990, our dates were to see surgeons, chemo doctors and radiation treatments. It gave new meaning to the courting process.
My gal was amazing. She lived off of grit, courage and a persistent digging for treatment information that would aid her recovery. Her stamina came and went, but her spirit and sense of humor were constantly present.
When the medical team declared she beat the cancer, we made plans to get married. That event was September 14, 1991.
There was one lingering concern. The doctors could not promise that Theresa could get or hold a pregnancy. She refused to accept that notion. She then designed a practice based on a healthy diet, lots of fitness, meditation and a host of alternative healing resources.
Mid-summer of 1993, we learned Theresa was pregnant. On March 3, 1994, Annika Eva Torseth was born. She now lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is our small miracle.
Since then, Theresa has started, grown and recently closed down a highly successful recruiting practice. She made serious contributions to the top line and the bottom line for our business. Man do I miss my business partner.
Her challenges did not disappear when she shut down her practice. We had decided to sell our house and made plans to move to Europe. It has been our goal to make this move for many years. We put the house on the market. Immediately, we had a nice offer from our neighbor and we were sailing to a quick closing.
Then came a call from Theresa’s doctor who was following up on her recent physical. The cancer was back. Nearly 30 years later, we returned to dates at surgery and chemo treatments; in the middle of a pandemic.
Theresa insisted we move ahead with selling the house. She is made of tougher stuff than me. In the past 30 years, the cancer treatment process has improved, and she came through it in great shape. Her medical team likes what they see in the tests and we are on track to move to Portugal sometime in the fall of this year.
These days, Theresa is enjoying a busy and diverse life. She volunteers helping people in our community, she rows in a crew boat three times a week, spends a day a week with her 92-year-old mother and stays in close contact with Annika. She does all this while having to put up with me.
Theresa Torseth is a warrior, a deep soul and a constant source of support for many people. She is also my VALENTINE.
Theresa, thank you for our 33 plus years of joy. I love you more than all the stars in all the skies.
Love,
Your guy.
P.S. Here’s a link to our Valentine’s Day dinner, courtesy of the New York Times: Seared Scallops With Glazed Brussels Sprouts
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