Virginia (Ginni) Davies, Ginni Lee to your long-time friends at Oak Bay high school in Victoria. You developed type one diabetes as a teenager, your parents, both doctors, guided you through that reality and supported you in meeting your daily needs, privately, without most people being aware of your condition. You excelled in your studies, stayed fit and strong both mentally and physically.
You could have easily obtained a medical degree, you always planned to be a doctor. So very bright! Married early, had three children, supported a husband through medical school, reluctantly you accepted the role as a wife and mother, but always assumed you would go to med school later. You found it hard to accept that the support to become a doctor never came. You did however carry on with your education. Shortly after giving birth to twins, you completed a master’s degree at UBC in Audiology. You went on to add more educational accomplishments and honours in your work, as an Audiologist at St. Paul’s Hospital, teaching at BCIT, UBC and with Work Safe BC.
In 1989 we met and fell in love, we had 30 years together.
In our blended family we have six adult children and eleven grandchildren. We experienced conflicts, challenges and disappointments regarding your health along with other issues. Over the years we worked closely together to suppress and deal with where this was obviously leading. Through it all you were stoic, determined, often feisty, never complaining, you had a great fun-loving disposition. Neither of us where perfect when taking on all the issues we faced, we struggled at times that’s for sure! We stayed together and accepted the challenge this journey was taking us on. There were changing medical conditions and needs, later you were diagnosed as having Focal Alzheimer’s. We took on all those issues, accepted some and found ways to get the best out of life beyond on-going medical predictions and opinions. We cried together at times in frustration, but we also laughed a lot, had much fun, travelled, met new people who became close friends and just pressed on. Ginni, you loved life, you certainly loved people, your family and friends. Halloween was a great time for you and we always found different places and ways to celebrate your birthday on the 31st October. As many do, I thought we had more time.
Shortly following a serious, unexpected medical problem and a few months before her 70th birthday, Ginni died, peacefully on April 23rd, 2019 in the arms of her care giver Darlene. Ginni you passed away minutes before I returned to Lady Minto hospital after being with you throughout the day. My lovely Ginni, I miss you so much, I cherished our time together. Your loving husband, Robert