new to the gluten free journey?
new to the gluten free journey?
Conan was was placed in my arms on March, 23, 1995. He was a sweet baby, full of energy and mischief. He hated naps, and often crawled out of his crib to play once the door was closed. He loved soft blankets and stuffed toys, often times cuddling them to his face.
He would always state obvious things like “When it’s daytime the sky is blue! Right Dad?” These little sayings, or “Conanisms” always ended with “Right Dad?”, and my response was always “That’s right!”
He loved being read to, and his favorite children’s book was Fox in Socks. I read it to him hundreds of times, and I think that this is one of the main reasons, he loved to read as he grew older.
I taught him how to walk, tie his shoes, get dressed, read, appreciate classical music, swim and dive, ride his bike, play basketball, hunt for “dragon eggs”, skip rocks, fish, treat a lady, and so much more.
Conan was the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back, if he thought you were cold. He would always share whatever he had with his brothers. Simply put, he was such a sweet and loving son, brother, friend…person.
As kids do, Conan grew up. He graduated high school, went to college for a while, and decided to follow in my foot steps. He joined the United States Air Force, and trained in security forces before being stationed at Vandenberg AFB in California.
He was a strapping young man, and aside from his service to our country, he regularly participated in Spartan Races. It was after a race that he experienced pain in his hip.
About two and a half years ago, I received a phone call from him in the hospital after he had a severe bout of hip pain. He was diagnosed with a Ewing’s Sarcoma. The tumor was very large, and there was suspicion even, then that it had metastasized into his lungs.
Conan spent two and a half years battling this cancer. It was during this battle that he was able to meet the love of his life, Sarah. As a father, I feel so blessed that he was able to experience the true love of a woman. I feel so blessed that even though I lost a son, I gained a daughter.
…that even in tragic times, a happy love story could happen, is the greatest gift in life he could have received.
Conan died in my arms on July, 30th at 5:22 am. I felt his spirit leave his body, but I will never forget those last few hours of his life as I held him to me. He was surrounded by the people who loved him the most, and I can only hope that he found peace and solace in knowing that he was loved so much by those present.
I know that Conan is in a better place now. I know that he is no longer wracked by pain, and struggling to get a breath, but even in knowing these things, it doesn’t ease the pain of his loss.
It doesn’t ease the overwhelming sense of loss, grief, anger, confusion, and sadness. A piece of me is gone forever in his loss.
I know that he is still with me in spirit, but I will never be able to hear his voice, touch his hand, or watch him grow as a man. I won’t be able to see him raise children, get a promotion, buy his first house, or do any of those things that a father looks forward to seeing happen for his son.
These are the thoughts that keep me awake at night. These are the thoughts that weigh heavy on my heart.
I would ask that if you see me, please don’t ask me if I am OK or how I am doing. I honestly don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to have the “small talk”, and I don’t want to lie to anyone, or burden you with my grief.
I do ask that you keep my family and I in your thoughts and prayers.
Dr. Osborne – The Gluten Free warrior
137 Responses
My heart goes out to you & your family. I lost a son & it’s a void that remains forever. Prayers to all.
Conan lives eternally with the Lord and Saviour. Shalom shalom.
My deepest sympathy to you and your family and prayers that you find comfort in the beautiful memories of Conan until you are joined again for eternity. God bless you!
This is a tragic and irreplaceable loss. To imagine a life such as Conan’s to be gone from physical presence is unimaginable, and even the precious bits I know from your sharing, cannot fade. A beautiful boy/man and life. Thanks for trusting us enough to share this with us. This touches and inspires me to see such beautiful fathering, such a loving family, and romance amidst difficulties. The photos of him along with your words paint a deeply moving tribute and memorial. held in love.
I am so sorry for the loss of your precious son. Sending condolences to your family, love, and a big (((HUG))).
Bless you and your family, and may your wonderful memories ease your pain.
Prayers go out to you and your family Dr. O!
What a beautiful tribute to honor your son.. My eyes are full of tears and my heart is full of prayers for your family. May Gods peace be with you.
Dr Osborne and family my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thanks for opening your heart and sharing your thoughts and feeling with us, the unknown people on the other side of the screen.
Sending you a virtual big hug.
May the love and the positive energy from the universe will help you and your family heal your soul.
Thanks for opening your heart and sharing your thoughts and feeling with us, the unknown people on the other side of the screen.
Sending you a virtual big hug.
May the love and the positive energy from the universe will help you and your family to heal your soul.
Dear Dr. Osborne and family,
I am so deeply sorry for the loss of your loving son, Conan. Know that there is a candle lit tonight in Norway and that I am praying for him and for my sister (who is also on the other side) to help assist his spirit in the afterlife. May he always be in your hearts, until that wonderful day your souls meet again.
Thank you for sharing. May we all know we are loved before our time on earth is over. I’m so happy he was, and still is! May this love continue to guide his soul, and may he be able to continue to touch yours, and all those he loved, in a million beautiful and silent ways…
Loss of a beautiful child is painful and unrelenting, but knowing he had a wonderful life full of good things and love is the most important thing for you all to remember. He’s in a better place now without pain, a place we will all be some day . So keep talking to Conan, keep sharing and including him in everyday things as his spirit is still with you . My warmest wishes are with you all.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Such a beautiful young man. I’m a grief specialist and I know there are no words for this deep pain. May you be surrounded by the love of others.
You have our heartfelt sympathy having experienced the death of a son when he was only 22 years old , the victim of receiving contaminated blood. The heartache is physical as well as emotional!! We will be thinking of you as you face the lonesome adjustment of life without him in the days, weeks and months ahead.
I am so sorry for your loss. Keeping you and your family in our family’s thoughts and prayers.
Dr. Osborne, I am so sorry to hear about Conan. You and your family are in my prayers as you continue to grieve. May God bless you and give you grace for each and every day. May the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Number 6:26
Dr. O. Words are not enuff to express the sadness I feel for you and your family. Your tribute certainly shows how much love Conan received and gave during his short life. I too just lost a dear friend of seventy years so grief is fresh to me as well. My prayers go up to you for courage and strength but mostly the comfort that will come from our Savior. May you continue to bless others with your knowledge and compassion.
Thank you for sharing the life of your loved one.
My Heart goes out to you and your family. I hope you can feel the energy of love and light being wrapped around you
by everyone who is touched by your story. Blessings!
I am truly sorry for your loss. Say a prayer each time you think of Conan. He is watching over you and your family. Please continue to help heal others as he would want you fight for being healthy.
So sorry… Beautiful boy and tribute…
I am so sorry to learn of Conan passing from this life to the next Dr Osborne…such a beautiful soul!
What a blessing his sweet being came into your life; just as HE was blessed no doubt, to have been born into your family and have you as a father… He must have been exceedingly proud!
Like you, I feel loved ones are closer than we realize. May his memories, his passion for life and spirit continue to bless you until we can all be reunited
God bless,
As always, I will continue to look forward to hearing your wise words in future medical conferences in which you speak. Your work helps so many…
Unlimited healing love from above to you and Conan’s circle…
Been keeping you and your family in my prayers throughout this week, Dr. O, and will continue to.
I witnessed my parents grief when my twin brother died at 25. They have been gone many years and while i know that their lives went on, a small part of them never truly got over the loss.
I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I am truly so very sorry.
Always remember the gift your son was and the love you shared.
So sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Very Dearest Dr. Osborne and family,
There are no words that can ease your pain, sorrow and suffering from the terrible loss of your very precious son but please know that you are never a burden and that we all care deeply and grieve with you. Thank you so much for letting us pray for you and I just pray that God will hold you in His loving, caring arms and surround you with His comfort, healing and strength during the difficult times ahead. You are dearly loved!
United States Coast Guard mama for Jesus
Our thoughts are with you and your family. ❤
Thanks for sharing Conan’s life with us . May God bless u and your family with the peace within.
Dr. Osborne, God’s peace and comfort be with you and your family.
Beautiful tribute to you son! May God grant you and your family peace that passes all understanding.
Thanks very much for sharing your grief, and I pray that healing comes to you and Conan’s family. RIP
I’m soooo sorry for you and your family. I will keep you all in my prayers. 🙏❤️
May God give you and your family the strength to bear the pain. Our prayers are with you.
TODAY IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF MY SISTER LOSING HER 22 YR. OLD SON, HE WAS HER FIRST BORN, THEN SHE LOST HER LAST AND 3RD SON…THEY ARE PRECIOUS FOREVER BEYOND WORDS…IT IS A HEARTACHE ONE CAN’T PUT INTO WORDS…I
WAS LIKE THEIR SISTER BECAUSE WE WERE CLOSE IN AGE, AND I HAD TO TRY AND HELP MY SISTER GO ON…BUT YES THE HEAVENLY FATHER I SAW WAS HELPING HER TO GO ON AND SHE SAID IT TOO…WE WILL PRAY THAT YOU ARE COMFORTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS…I AM SO VERY SORRY…HE IS A HANDSOME BOY, AND ALL YOUR FAMILY. I KNOW IT ISN’T THE SAME, BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH EACH OF YOU AND ONE DAY YOU WILL BE TOGETHER…BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOUR FAMILY EACH AND EVERY DAY…
May our Lord God give you & your family peace & comfort at this most difficult time. Thank you for sharing the beautiful life of your son.
So sorry for your loss! Prayers for your sweet family.
Dear Dr.Osborne and family,
You have my deepesy sympathy, and I will be praying for you all.
Your tender loving words and pictures of your son brings me to tears.
Dear Dr.Osborne and family,
You have my deepesy sympathy, and I will be praying for you all.
Your tender loving words and pictures of your son brings me to tears.
Dear Dr Osborne , my husband died suddenly on the same day as your son Conan . My three children and myself are devastated. The loss of your son must almost be unbearable for you and your family . A family friend read a poem by Henry Scott -Holland at my husband’s funeral service two days ago called Death is Nothing at All . It gave us some comfort and it may do the same for you and your family . Yours in shared grief Romy B xxxxx
Dear Dr. Osborne ~
I am so saddened to hear of your losses. My heart goes out to you. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of Conan’s life with us, and allowing that expression of your grief as well. Love bless all your family. I’m so happy for the very strong relationships you all have, and the love Conan was blessed to find as well.
Dr O,
So sorry for your loss….please take some comfort in knowing that the short life your son enjoyed was fulfilling and he had a loving family to share it with. Condolences to you and your family.
Dear Dr. Osborne , I have two boys and both in their early 40’s. I could not even contemplate bearing such pain if I lost one of them. My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. My prayer is that God will give you a peace and a hope during this time reflection on Conan……May God Richly bless you and your family.
My heart is aching for you & your family. I’m so sorry you have joined the club no one wants to enter…parents who have lost a child. When our son Austin Jacob, age 26, died 10 months ago, our friend Jim asked us the same question his Dad asked him when his son Jake died at age 21…If God had told you when he was born that you would only have him for this many years would you have still wanted him? Of course our answer was a resounding Yes, with no question or hesitation! I would never have wanted to give up even a minute of the time we did have with our precious son! I can tell the abundant love you shared with your son thru the beautiful tribute you’ve shared…we’re blessed to have loved so much that it is extremely painful to lose them! There are no words to ease your pain…sending love & strength to you & your family. 💕
Dear Dr. Osborne & Family……
Words cannot express the feelings flowing through me, I just finished reading your beautiful memorial tribute to Conan. I am a mother of two grown sons, and although I cannot begin to contemplate what you must be experiencing, I know your pain is so real, Everything he was in Life will bless you and yours forever. You are in my prayers. May Conan rest in Heavenly Peace……🙏❤️🙏
Im so sorry for your loss. I know it’s devistating. Words can’t express how we feel when we lose a child. I lost my 28 year old daughter to lupus, seven yrs. ago this past July, 2018. It still doesn’t feel that long ago. Still hurts, but somehow we find strength to move forward, in time. It took me awhile. I didn’t want anyone asking me how I was either, because the tears would flow. I couldn’t go anywhere, to many reminders of places we’d been and enjoyed. I’m praying for you and your family and God give you peace and comfort. Sharing in your grief. God bless you ❤️
A very beautiful tribute to your son Conan! May you and your family receivs great peace, comfort and even joy at this most difficult season of your lives. Much love and prayers from Nigeria
I am so sorry for your devastating loss.