Twenty Years Later...Forever in Our Hearts 🦋❤️
Remembering Woody's Life (November 21, 1965 - August 6, 2003)
I typically post here about my pharmaceutical drug safety efforts. But not today. Today, we are going to pause and celebrate my late husband’s life. Twenty years ago on August 6, 2003, Woody tragically passed away and life was forever changed.
While Woody’s death was the reason I became the accidental drug safety advocate, his life is what we are remembering. Big Pharma may consider deaths like his, acceptable collateral damage or the cost of doing business. However, these are real people living their lives and NOT some actuarial data point. They are somebody’s husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend.
Woody loved life. He had a huge personality and lit up the room with his booming voice and presence. He laughed and loved big. Worked and played hard. He was curious, asked questions and not afraid to speak out for causes he believed in. People liked to be around Woody. He was a natural salesman.
Woody used to always say…
“I will never judge my life based on my career or how much money I make.
It will be based on my family, friends, and leaving the world a better place than I came into.”
I Was Here 🦋❤️
I lived.
I loved.
I was here.
I remember after Woody passed away, one of my biggest fears was that no one would remember him in 20 years. Out of sight. Out of mind. So in honor of this milestone, several of Woody’s family and friends shared stories, tributes and the impact his life had on them.
Tributes, Memories, and Letters to Woody 🦋❤️
While the calendar may say 20 years, the heart still says today. Click on the images below to hear what Woody’s family and friends had to say.
Woody, here’s to a life well-lived and to a love that knows no boundaries of space or time. You are loved as much today as you were back then. Your life mattered and without a doubt left the world a better place. 🦋❤️