By Frosty Wooldridge

Everyone suffers tragedy in this life.. They will see the death of their parents. They might see the death of a sibling or friend. They may lose a loved one to an accident or violence or disease or war.

For the record, I lost my father at the age of 46 to a heart attack when I was a teenager.  Several friends were killed in Vietnam in 1969.  Several friends died in my thirties from accidents.  My brother died of a heart attack at 50. My other brother suffered a stroke at 55.  A year ago, one of my climbing-cycling friends died from falling off a cliff he had just climbed. Four hundred of his friends and I cried our eyes out at the memorial service. My college friend’s wife died of brain cancer last year…after a three-year fight to save her.  My mother died after a long life, but my anguish at her passing continues.

Over five years ago, I announced in a commentary that my wife Sandi contracted Alzheimer’s Disease.  As a research journalist, I followed every thread of information to save her.  This condition must be the cruelest disease on the planet.  It begins slowly to take away your words, your thoughts, your ability to remember. By the second year, it digs out and hollows out your brain. 

Day by day, in the span of 5..8 years, it reduced Sandi from a vibrant, alive, exciting and joyful woman, my loving wife, adventure partner, and best friend—-to a 15-year-old, then 12-year-old, then eight-year-old, then six-year-old, then four-year- old, then two-year-old. At the end, she could not speak coherently, just gibberish, and confusion.  She would sometimes blurt, “I like you.”  I would reply, “I LOVE YOU SANDI.”   She would smile at me.

At first, we continued our daily activities like working out at the gym on the track to keep blood flowing to her brain.  We shopped for groceries.  Soon, she began to wander out the door and down the street. The neighbors brought her back to me. I put an identification bracelet on her. I had to lock the doors from the inside. I cared for her 24/7.  She still remembered my name up until six months ago.  But my name faded from her vacant memory.

Early on, I purchased a book: The First Survivors of Alzheimer’s—In Their Own Words by Dr. Dale Bredesen.  Five women and two men related their therapies for recovering their minds.  That gave me all the incentive I needed.  I read a dozen books and articles on recovering from Alzheimer’s.  

*The End of Alzheimer’s Program by Dr. Dale Bredesen

*Life Force by Tony Robbins

*Healthy Brain Zone by Dr. Don Colbert

*Outlive—The since and Art of Longevity by Dr. Peter Attia

*How America’s Most Innovative Doctors are Reversing Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Memory Loss by Peggy Sarlin

*Keep Sharp by Dr.  Sanjay Gupta

• 12 Weeks to a Sharper Mind by Dr. Sanjay Gupta

And, I purchased another six books on Alzheimer’s.  I watched every video on the Internet on Alzheimer’s.  I discovered how to clear heavy metals out of the brain and body with chelation. I discovered how to detoxify chemicals out of the body.

We tried everything: Chiropractic for nerve flow. Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber for enhanced oxygen. Ion Cleanse Bath for chelation of toxins out of the body. Magnetic mat to balance her waves with the earth’s. Earthing sheet to balance her electrical waves with the planet’s. Wet and dry sauna. Over fifty supplements. Walking the track 50 minutes a day. Daily body massage front and back for 5.8 years.  Learning boards. Grocery shopping. Movies. News stories. Nature Channel. Walking with friends. Slow dancing in the kitchen. Anything and all therapies—-I tried them with Sandi.

After seeing Alzheimer’s M..D. Hopps, she gave all the tests, plus an MRI. She said, “Your wife’s condition is bad, and she won’t recover.”

Without any hope left, I walked out of the office crying my eyes out. I cried all the way to the car.. I cried all the way home. That doctor defeated me. I was depressed for three days.  Then, I pulled myself together, and got back at it to find a cure for my fabulous wife, Sandi.

So, last week after 5.8 years of trying everything under the sun to bring her back, Sandi wouldn’t drink much water. She barely would eat food. I had to feed her and keep giving her water.  Also, she was losing her balance and her bowels. By nightfall on February 18, 2025, this is what happened:

Sandi was sitting in the dining room chair this afternoon with her feet soaking in that Ion Cleanse bath, and she was looking at me, and I fed her some warm soup, and then, she gasped and her head fell back, and she died in the chair.

 

I carried her to the carpet in the front room and laid her on her back, and gave her CPR, and mouth to mouth.  She didn’t respond. I called 911, and within five minutes they put her on a defibrillator and life support. She was gone.

 

The cops and ambulances arrived.  They wrapped her up with her face showing on the gurney.

 

I kissed her forehead one last time, held her face in my hands, kissed her lips, and cried myself sick to my stomach. My last words to her were, “Sandi, I couldn’t help falling in love with you.”

They wheeled her out on a gurney. She was cremated last week. Memorial on March 28, 2026

 

I am in shock. I am in pain. I am empty with grief. I know that I will wake up in the morning without Sandi.  She has been the love of my life for 32 years. My grief cannot be measured. I am in THE WORST SORROW OF MY LIFE. Every cell in my body feels like it’s suffering from emotional food poisoning.   

 

This is the most terrible thing that has happened to me in my life.  Sandi has been my best friend, my dance partner, editor, lover, humorist, cycling partner, skiing partner, sailing partner, hiking partner, church partner, everything in my life that has been good, loving, warm and dear.  She has been the light of my life for three decades. I wish I could have died right alongside of her.  She’s been the light of my life for 32 years.

 

I’m really empty right now. I don’t know what to do. I am going to bed dreading when I wake up in the morning.  

 

With my wife Sandi,  “Heaven has just gotten a new Angel.”

Sandi’s and Frosty’s Wedding Vows

Our wedding vows.  I’ve kept them on my office desk in a brass frame for all these years.  I want you to know that I kept them with honor, respect and love up to her last moment on this planet.  

Wedding Vows of Sandi and Frosty

Today, I take you, Frosty, to be my partner, best friend and husband.  In doing so, I’m announcing and declaring that I will give you my deepest friendship and love.  I further announce before God and my family and friends that it is my intention to be with you forever in a sacred partnership of the heart and soul…sharing with you all that is good within me, to protect and cherish you always.  My love to you, Sandi

My dearest Sandi,

Your spirit lifts me to the skies and your laughter soothes my soul. Your energy and style caress my spirit.  Your joy is my joy. Your beauty is my lucky star.

As we spread our wings on this great new adventure, I want to let you know why I love you.  That first night on the dance floor with your spirt, dancing eyes and sparkle so thrilling——captivated my soul. That moment has remained within me because it has not been matched in my lifetime. Your excitement for just about everything tickles my heart with warmth and peace.

We have some wonderful avenues to seek and share in our coming third of this fantastic voyage.  I’m privileged to share them with you. You lift me up with your power and touch my being.  I have not had you out of my mind for even a day in the past seven years.  My hands truly belong in your hands——on a walk around a lake, through the forest, up a mountain, side by side in slumber, across a meadow, on the dance floor, at the supper table, in church and all the other paths of life. For I am certain that my heart is safe in your hands and always will be.

You have my honor that I will do everything to support you and cherish you. I will support your boys by my actions and character. I will cheer them in their paths toward life.  I will support you in your challenges with their challenges.

May we laugh, cry, share and paint the dance floor with our spirits in the years to come my darling life mate, wife and best friend.  I love you, Sandi

And with that, I feel like the most fortunate man on the planet to have lived 32 years with the love of my life, Sandi.  Indeed, Heaven just got a new Angel.