Perhaps this strays from the original family album meaning, however, for me, there is no other way. You see, my wife IS my family. Not only is she my wife, she is also my best friend. My name is Allan, and my wife's name is Donna. We were married at 1:30 pm at the Brick Church, Bangor, Maine, on February 18, 2007.

Over the past 5 years and 3 months, we have had our good times and our bad times. Most though, were our good times, filled with laughter, funny moments, jokes, and moments sitting beside each other holding hands as we watched movies or listened to our local radio station.

She and i both had very harsh and difficult upbringings. Hers was abusive relationships, and mine was drugs and alcohol. Together, we often have wiped each others tears away on more occasions than i care to recount.

Recently, we were dealt a blow that shook our lives to the soul. Donna had a major stroke which has left her unable to walk, unable to speak, and limited sight. Her entire right hand side is unable to function, and her speech has been taken away. She can see however, shadows and blurred images are the extent of her sight.

Since that day, May 04, 2012, i have watched my wife suffer the unknown fate of a stroke, which was 1 major stroke, doing damage to numerous parts of the brain. The medical staff at her hospital, have been doing everything known in the medical field to help her, however, as of 7:30 pm last evening, Things are looking quite bleak at best.

I have rallied to get her family in touch with the hospital and even directly with her, even though she cannot speak. You see, she is able to understand and is aware of her surroundings and to some extent, of what has happened to her. The hardest aspect to all of this, is finding the strength to relay the situation to her family. It is a task i would never have been able to do had it not been for her daughters whom have given me the courage to battle this head strong.

As of recently, the doctors and nurses as well as her medical case management workers have indicated that this will be a battle that might very well go on for weeks, months, years or even the rest of her life. The quality of her life will greatly be determined by how soon she is able to get placed into intensive therapy, and how much support she gets from family and friends, as this is all a part of the psychological aspect of healing.

It is quite possible that this issue could become worse, and potentially fatal, and on the same coin, it is also equally possible she can make a full recovery.

I have chosen to do this as my family album because like so many of us, It is just her and i for the most part. Both of our families have been separated over the years and we are attempting to bring our families together once again. For Donna and myself, we are each others family.

In all of this, i think my message would have to be this. Family is a lifeline to our existence that not only is about the here and now, but also spans the course of decades past, perhaps even centuries. Sometimes all we have left is photographs of those of so long ago, and the recent photos of grandchildren and great grandchildren. So is the way for Donna and myself.

My wife is originally from Lowell, Massachusetts and is of Greek decent. I am originally from Bangor, Maine, of Irish and Italian Decent. Together, we make our home our Special place, and hold our loved ones as our treasures. Life would be void without either of the two.

I write this report, with a sense of pride, because for the first time since this nightmare struck, i am able to reveal the one element of my life that means more than all the treasures on the planet... My wife is my family, and without her, i would be lost and void of existence.

I wish to thank you for listening to me as i write this report, because although it is perhaps not in the way intended, it is of my family. OUR family album.