April Elizabeth Tracy was born on December 15, 1969 in Alvin, Texas, the eighth of nine children. She attended Alvin High School and earned two degrees from Alvin Community College. As a nurse, she worked at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Children’s Hospital of Austin (now Dell Children’s), Seattle Children’s Hospital, Swedish Hospital (Seattle), Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Banner Children’s Hospital (Phoenix), Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. But her favorite job was at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. She spent most of her career working with children with cancer and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplants. She also worked with terminal AIDS patients, surgery patients, urology patients and many others. April spent many summers at Texas Lions Camp, as a camper, a counselor and a nurse. April and I met there in 1993 and we quickly fell in love. We married at Grace Episcopal Church in Galveston on December 14, 1996. April called me her “guardian angel” while I called her my “summer miracle.” We enjoyed 16 years as friends and soulmates, 13 of those years as husband and wife.
April loved to travel, and she visited Germany, England, Hungary, Mexico, Canada and dozens of cities around the United States. She worked as a travel nurse at times to allow her to explore new places. She loved shopping and showed an amazing skill for finding bargains. She enjoyed collecting, reading and just spending time with family and friends. She loved Disneyland, flowers, scented candles, candy hearts, clothes, shoes and all things pink. She loved to decorate for and celebrate holidays, especially Christmas. Snowmen and gingerbread men held a special place in her heart.
April was a beautiful person with a generous and loving heart. She loved children and was passionate about her work with them. She believed working with children with cancer, many of whom were dying, was a challenge and an opportunity to help and comfort those who needed it the most. Her high ideals and her effervescent personality inspired all those around her. With her brilliant smile and sharp wit she could engage even the most difficult patients and parents. She never forgot that underneath everything was human being in pain whom she could comfort. She supported many charities and donated bags of groceries to the food bank every month.
April fought diabetes, kidney failure and several other serious medical problems with courage and dignity, never asking for sympathy or special treatment. She remained fearless in the face of all her difficulties. April never wasted her time worrying; she was too busy living, and wouldn't let fear get in her way. Her deep faith and quiet spirituality helped her through many hard times. Her dream was to get a kidney transplant and a pancreas transplant, and then go back to the job that she loved and continue traveling around the world. April received a kidney transplant from me on February 10, 2010. The transplant worked perfectly and she felt better than she had in years. She was absolutely delighted with her new lease on life, eagerly planning to renew our wedding vows on the beach in Maui on her 15th anniversary in 2011, tour Italy, and take a train trip across Canada, among many other dreams. She hoped to advocate for organ donation, and educate and support transplant recipients.
April dreamed big, worked tirelessly, lived fearlessly, and loved unconditionally. She blessed me with the best 16 years of my life. In her arms I found a comfort, contentment and peace I never knew was possible. I could fill endless pages with what she taught me about life and love. Her love will fill my heart to overflowing forever.
In our work in pediatrics we often cared for children who ultimately died. Some of these children touched so many lives that we felt they did more in a few short years than many people do in a lifetime lasting decades. In her 40 years, April accomplished more than many people would in a century.
So go now and hug your loved ones tightly. Buy your special someone flowers. Live and love every day to the fullest; don't wait for tomorrow, because you never know how much time you have together. That is how April lived, and we are all richer for it. May your memories of her always bring a smile to your face.
April loved to travel, and she visited Germany, England, Hungary, Mexico, Canada and dozens of cities around the United States. She worked as a travel nurse at times to allow her to explore new places. She loved shopping and showed an amazing skill for finding bargains. She enjoyed collecting, reading and just spending time with family and friends. She loved Disneyland, flowers, scented candles, candy hearts, clothes, shoes and all things pink. She loved to decorate for and celebrate holidays, especially Christmas. Snowmen and gingerbread men held a special place in her heart.
April was a beautiful person with a generous and loving heart. She loved children and was passionate about her work with them. She believed working with children with cancer, many of whom were dying, was a challenge and an opportunity to help and comfort those who needed it the most. Her high ideals and her effervescent personality inspired all those around her. With her brilliant smile and sharp wit she could engage even the most difficult patients and parents. She never forgot that underneath everything was human being in pain whom she could comfort. She supported many charities and donated bags of groceries to the food bank every month.
April fought diabetes, kidney failure and several other serious medical problems with courage and dignity, never asking for sympathy or special treatment. She remained fearless in the face of all her difficulties. April never wasted her time worrying; she was too busy living, and wouldn't let fear get in her way. Her deep faith and quiet spirituality helped her through many hard times. Her dream was to get a kidney transplant and a pancreas transplant, and then go back to the job that she loved and continue traveling around the world. April received a kidney transplant from me on February 10, 2010. The transplant worked perfectly and she felt better than she had in years. She was absolutely delighted with her new lease on life, eagerly planning to renew our wedding vows on the beach in Maui on her 15th anniversary in 2011, tour Italy, and take a train trip across Canada, among many other dreams. She hoped to advocate for organ donation, and educate and support transplant recipients.
April dreamed big, worked tirelessly, lived fearlessly, and loved unconditionally. She blessed me with the best 16 years of my life. In her arms I found a comfort, contentment and peace I never knew was possible. I could fill endless pages with what she taught me about life and love. Her love will fill my heart to overflowing forever.
In our work in pediatrics we often cared for children who ultimately died. Some of these children touched so many lives that we felt they did more in a few short years than many people do in a lifetime lasting decades. In her 40 years, April accomplished more than many people would in a century.
So go now and hug your loved ones tightly. Buy your special someone flowers. Live and love every day to the fullest; don't wait for tomorrow, because you never know how much time you have together. That is how April lived, and we are all richer for it. May your memories of her always bring a smile to your face.
...It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
-Abraham Lincoln
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