Friends To Family

It was the summer of 1977, I was 9 years old and bowling in a senior junior league when I met David. We both lived in a small town Mamaroneck, NY where our moms bowled together in night leagues.

I don’t remember when we stopped bowling together but it was years. Over time our friendship grew deeper and we went from friends to siblings. High school was a great time with him we would cut class and play spades in the Palmer cafeteria and he was even Gizmos (my stuffed animal) Godfather LOL. Even our lunch monitor Jessie would join us in the card games. She was cool, she would ask us if we had class and would look the other way when we say no.

I remember when he said he was joining the Army; I was proud of him yet scared something would happen. I believe it was 1994 when I went overseas my very first time on vacation to visit David while stationed in Nuremberg Germany. My first night in Germany I went with him and a bunch of his Army buddies to a bar drinking. Whoops! did I get drunk from the warm beer they serve and on way back to his apartment I remember throwing up out the window and seeing Mercedes police cars LOL. When I was pregnant in 1997 - 1998 with my first son while David was stationed in Texas, something was wrong and I called him not realizing the time difference but, instead of saying call me back I'm sleeping he talked with me. I was having a complicated pregnancy and that really helped me that day. David also started me with a Christmas tradition he did with his kids. Laura and David bought an ornament every year to represent something that happened during the year.

When I moved back to my mom’s house after separating from my husband he sent me/my son our first ornament or two. I continue that tradition with both my sons to this day. When he found out I was dating someone 14 years older than me he had jokes lol about being with an old man, but when he met Nicholas I believe it was Father's day weekend in 2001 he sang a different tune. When my husband of 18 years, but married 14 1/2 had a massive heart attack and died after 6 days on life support. My brother was by my side and not knowing what I was going to do, he arranged everything for after the service for family at my house. Even is secret fried chicken recipe LOL (inside joke).

When my mom’s health took a turn and I had to relocate her from Mamaroneck to live with me in PA, I had to do some remodeling on my house to make her a suite. David came on Saturday, Columbus Day 2021 weekend and remodeled my mom’s whole bathroom and wouldn't let me pay for anything saying it was his gift to her. He asked me if I noticed his speech was off and proceeded to fill me in on what was going on at this point and that the doctors were still trying to find out. My heart sank because I was worried but, I didn't want to show it. Sunday night that weekend we watched our NFL teams play and all during the game when his Cowboys would do something he would slap my foot LOL cause it was closest to him. I cried after he left on Columbus Day because he's my brother and I felt helpless.

Monday night May 23, 2022 he text me "Last Thursday I was formally diagnosed with ALS. No changes other than that Love you". My heart broke I told him "ok well at least we know what it is. Love you too". He told me "That is true, and changes nothing still living my best life". I told him "I know you are and we're going to do this together by your side, I love you and will always need you". He told me "Love you too, have a great day and I said "you too". Over the past year I would dive down to see him whenever I can. I surprised him at the ALS CEO soak, walked with him at the DC ALS walk and visits to his home.

Since I was a kid I remember asking my mom for a brother, little did I know then that I would have a brother and he is and always has been the best brother a girl could ask for. I will continue to support him with the rest of the family as he continues to live his best life. David is such a giving man from working with The Mission Continues to starting his own organization Victory Gardens for Vets. We love our football seasons him a Dallas Cowboy fan and me a NY Giants fan it never gets boring. David is not only My brother he is My Hero. I Love him from Infinity and Beyond.

Jeanette Carlo Del Valle

Your Loving Sister