We lost a special lady yesterday. The heart she was born with wasn’t strong enough to keep up with her. After many close calls, massive medical hurdles, and what seemed like an eternity of waiting, she finally received a donor heart.

But the new healthy heart beating inside her wasn’t enough. Just as it seemed a full recovery would be possible, something unexpected ambushed her and stole away all hope of recovery. She leaves behind a husband who is still reeling from the idea of life without her. She also leaves behind many friends who will miss her.

The last time I saw her was at a celebration dinner for a now-completed project that she had instigated years before. At one point she patted the pager on her hip and said, “It’s Super Bowl weekend, and there’s an ice storm coming. The odds are good.” It was a delightfully twisted comment, indicative of both her dark side and her sense of humor.

Indeed the odds were good. Two days later, she received her donor heart. I just wish she had had a chance to use it a little longer, and to its fullest potential.