My grief shoes
Flat feet and hospital floors don’t mesh. When I moved into the hospital after Ramón’s cardiac arrest in spring of 2020, my flat feet...
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- Nov 25, 2022
- 3 min
A flight of imagination
I have a complicated relationship with airplanes. I was once headed to NYC for a work trip and had an awful asthma attack. I was gasping...
- Oct 21, 2022
- 1 min
I'm published!
I was embarrassed to admit I wanted to be a writer for a very long time. I was fearful of seeming unrealistic, for one, but putting my...
- Jul 27, 2022
- 1 min
Role reversal
EXTRA! EXTRA! I recently wrote a guest post for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Here's where to find it: Role Reversal: When Someone With...
![[updated] Yes, I want a Fanta (Fanta). *tears*](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/031aef_9e0ede87f6744ed2aa610f48c1603f9a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_282,h_211,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/031aef_9e0ede87f6744ed2aa610f48c1603f9a~mv2.jpg)
- Jun 21, 2022
- 3 min
[updated] Yes, I want a Fanta (Fanta). *tears*
The original post has been updated below. It's no secret that I write a lot about grief — it's been a significant part of my life. Today,...
- Feb 28, 2022
- 3 min
A-O-K
Several days ago, I hopped in my car to head to an appointment, and my Pandora app automatically connected to the car’s audio. I fumbled...
- Nov 6, 2021
- 4 min
Get outta here!
Though I’m delayed, I’m sure this post will surprise just about nobody. The Braves are World Series Champions! In some ways, it feels...
- Jun 2, 2021
- 1 min
Open doors
One day last June while I was staying in the hospital with Ramón, I decided to watch the video of his swearing in ceremony. Since he was...
- Jul 26, 2020
- 2 min
One week
It’s been one week since we said goodbye to Ramón, and it’s been more than 14 weeks since I said farewell to the version of Ramón I’d...
- Jul 20, 2020
- 2 min
Day ???
Many of you have followed our story and its constant ups and downs, particularly since Ramón’s chemo/radiation/transplant...
- Jul 18, 2020
- 4 min
Day +100: Now we're here
Holy Day +100 since Ramón’s transplant! Exactly 100 days ago, on April 10, Ramón received his stem cell transplant. From 11:25 a.m. to...
- Jul 11, 2020
- 2 min
Day +93 (today): Hospital Day 100 (yesterday)
Today is day +93 since transplant, and yesterday was Ramón’s 100th consecutive day in the hospital. Though each individual day has felt...
- Jul 1, 2020
- 2 min
Day +83: Let non-freedom ring
“I’m not going to wear my ring, okay?” I remember Ramón asking that as we did one last sweep of the house before departing for the...
- Jun 27, 2020
- 2 min
Day +79: inTENSE
I awoke this morning with a joyous heart, knowing that Ramón is waking up in a regular hospital room; he escaped the ICU! He required...
- Jun 5, 2020
- 1 min
Day +57: Breathtaking sunset
Saturday into Sunday has become my toughest time of the week. It makes me reflect on "the night" when Ramón was feeling indescribably...
- Jun 4, 2020
- 2 min
Thank you, Atlanta Braves!
Day +54: Keep swinging June 3, 2020 You know when you’re just staring at the computer screen, deciding what to say to Hank Aaron? Do you...
- May 25, 2020
- 3 min
Day +46: Life is hard.
The past several weeks have been, without a doubt, the most difficult time of my life. Each day, I have been hopeful that Ramón’s status...
- May 5, 2020
- 1 min
Raise a ______ for Ramón
Happy almost birthday to this guy! It's the night before Ramón's birthday, which means it's also the eve of the one-year mark since his...
- Apr 18, 2020
- 2 min
Day +9: Cloud not-so-nine
Today has been, by far, the scariest day of my life. This morning, at about 5:25, Ramón lost his airway, most likely due to swelling...
- Apr 17, 2020
- 5 min
Days +5 to +8
Day +5: Window of opportunity April 15, 2020 It’s been a while since I’ve said this, but we had a good day! Though we’ve had glimpses...
My name is Drew Dotson, and my life has been anything but perfect, yet it's still perfectly beautiful. After growing up with a genetic disease, cystic fibrosis, I was blessed to meet an amazing man who loved me without bounds. Then he died.
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