Life is unpredictable. One day everyone in our family is happy and things are going well, and then not long after, things start changing and seem to be falling apart. Has that ever happened to you? Well it did to Katie and me not long ago. Katie’s Mom, Katherine, has always been an excellent piano player and a musical inspiration to our family, and that’s where Katie got her musical ability and love for piano playing. Katie’s Mom also loved to play piano every chance she got, and she invited Katie over to her home on many occasions to play along with her. It really is a beautiful way to connect with a loved one, by playing music together. Katie and her Mom would do it as often as possible when Katie had time because of Katie’s busy professional and work schedule, and taking care of our kids, Karson & Kylie.
Some years ago Katherine was diagnosed with cancer, but through quick medical intervention and rest, the cancer seemed to completely go away. Katherine recovered and everything looked good for her. But a few years later the cancer returned in her body and had spread to different areas inside of her and become aggressive. Have you ever known anyone like that? Unfortunately it is not uncommon for that to happen. Cancer is a terrible disease and it is difficult for a person to be cured. It wasn’t long after the cancer came back that Katie’s Mom had to go into the hospital because Kathrine didn’t have the strength or physical recovery this time to stay home any longer. Katie was the first one to visit her Mom in the hospital and it was a very stressful, sad time.
The doctors did everything they could for her but then we got the devastating news that Katie’s Mom was given just weeks to live. I am so glad that Katie was there to give support to her Mom when they found out, and be with her nearly every day. I rushed over to the hospital as soon as I could to be with Katherine at her bedside. It was such a difficult time for me, and for her, because Katherine (Mom) was always there for us supporting our music, our careers, babysitting our children when we needed it, and she just loved us so much. I have a very soft soft in my heart for Katie’s Mom because she is a wonderful woman and always supported me and Katie, especially during difficult times. I knew that I was “saying goodbye” to Katherine when I saw her last because she did not have long to live.
Our children, Karson & Kylie, have a very close relationship with their Grandma Katherine and they love her very much and she has always been close to them. Karson and Kylie’s Grandma has been “instrumental” in helping to direct our kids to learning and playing piano and taking it seriously…and that has paid off in a big way for our them. The love of good music in our family has always been very important to all of us and we are glad for their Grandmother’s legacy in that way. It is so difficult for younger kids to understand the concepts of dying and death and what it actually means. Karson & Kylie just know that they will likely not see and hear from their Grandma here again when she passes away and that makes them very sad. It has been a very difficult time for them.
Grandma passed away in 2026 at the age of 90. She lived a long and amazing life doing and experiencing amazing things all throughout her years in ways that we could not imagine. She had so many stories that she had told us and we were so blessed to have known her and be able to call her “Mom” and “Grandma.” She was such a “strong woman” mentally, physically, and spiritually and we are forever grateful that she was in our lives from before our marriage and during our marriage. We will never forget our “Mom” and she’ll always be with us in our minds and in our hearts. We love you Mom and your music will live on!