In Memory of Bill Abel

Bill Abel, Jr., won the Moments that Matter contest in October 2000. He died in May 2001, during heart surgery. His widow Patricia says he was proud of winning the contest and shared his story with many people. We are honored to present his account.

Bill Abel, of Pasadena, TX, wants his wife, Pat to know how much he appreciates her. Winner of a contest honoring people with lung cancer, Bill will surprise Pat with the $1,500 award check and suggest they take a vacation together. "Pat has been by my side through all the tough parts -- surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation -- and a heart attack, too," Abel commented. "I really didn't enter this contest to gain anything, I just wanted to tell people how much Pat means to me. Spending this money together having fun is one small way I can thank her."

Abel submitted his essay to the Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, and Education (ALCASE) for their national Moments That Matter program which is sponsored through a grant from Eli Lilly and Company. Entrants write about what has helped them most since being diagnosed with lung cancer and how their lives have changed. Their stories are highlighted in ALCASE's newsletter and posted on its Website to encourage others facing the disease.

Pat and Bill Abel met thirty years ago, when she applied for a job in his family's drugstore. They fell in love but "were too young to make a marriage commitment," he said. Pat went away to college in Louisiana and eventually married someone else. Twenty years later, following her divorce, she wrote Bill a letter. Amazingly, he was available and interested. They met and rekindled their love and married in 1993.

" After so many years apart," Bill writes in his essay, "we were finally together and very happy." Three years later, in 1996, when cancer was detected in his left lung, the couple began living the "in sickness and in health" part of their marriage vows. Together, they faced his lung surgery and, the following year, a heart attack. Pat continued her secretarial work, using up her vacation leave to care for Bill. She went with him to doctor's visits, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. Now that he's back at work, Pat rises early to prepare his lunch and set out the pills he takes.

With their lives the last few years revolving around doctor's appointments, work, and college expenses for Pat's daughter, Melissa, time and money have been tight. Winning the Moments That Matter award means that Bill can relax with his favorite person, his wife. "Pat is really energetic and she loves me. We're both optimists. All of that and our faith in God keep us going. I'm so glad I can surprise Pat with this gift." Bill's radiation oncologist, Dr. Mark D'Andrea, of Pasadena, will hand the check to Pat during an office visit.