A Promise To His Dying Wife Brings Peace And Comfort To Others - 11Alive.com | WXIA | Atlanta, GA

Posted By -  Marc Pickard

Last Updated On:  4/6/2010 8:21:26 PM

ATLANTA -- Dave Frew wasn't interested in being tied down.

So he wasn't prepared for the lightning bolt that hit him when Stephanie walked through the door of his company31 years ago. They married. Their life together was storybook. But their story ended too soon.

Dave Frew spoke with 11Alive's Marc Pickardabout the love of his life -- and the promise he made to his beloved Stephanie.

Dave and Stephanie frew traveled around the world together, living a life few would dare dream of.

"The term was fairy tale," Dave said. "And our life was. Our life was completely fairy tale."

On a trip to Africa, Stephanie complained of severe stomach pains.

"After six days of testing, they told us that she had terminal cancer," he said.

Doctors said she had three years.

"It was three years they gave us," Dave said. "And Iheard them. But I did not accept their prognosis."

Dave sought the best doctors, medicines and treatments anywhere in the world. They went to Tampa where, for the first time, Stephanie saw therapy dogs.

"She lit up like a Christmas tree," Dave said. "And she says, when we get home, Ranger has a job."

Stephanie Frew had decided that she and their dog Ranger would be certified with happy tails to be a dog therapy team to visit the sick and bring them some comfort.

"She was dying," he said.But she knew it.But it didn't matter. That was her passion."

Through it all, Stephanie and Dave spoke frankly about death.

"She wasn't concerned about her passing," he said. "She wasn't. She was ready. She was concerned about leaving me behind."

Last July, almost 10 years after her diagnosis, Stephanie Frew died at home.

"I built gardens," Dave said. "They're magnificent. And they were built for her. And she passed away in the gardens."

Before Stephanie died, Dave made a pledge.

"One of the promises I made to her is that I would honor her by getting certified as a pet therapy handler," he said. "And I would continue her legacy."

Dave Frew and Ranger are a certified pet therapy team for happy tails. Today they are visiting Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

"He loves visiting people," Dave told a young patient, "and bringing comfort and love and happiness to everybody."

Now, Dave Frew has a new passion in his life.

These dogs not only help the patients, but also everyone around them.

Could it be that Stephanie Frew knew that by asking her husband to carry on her work, she would be helping him heal his own heartache?

If you'd like to contact Dave, or Ranger, you can email them at: davefrew37@gmail.com-- or call them at 404-275-1319.

via 11alive.com

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