Tags
Atrial Fibrillation, Boston Marathon, God, High school, Miwok, United States, University of South Carolina, White Collar
Wednesday, August 10, 2011- I was called by a friend from high school. “Did you hear . . .?” was the words from my friend. “No, hear what?” was my reply. “Peter Cadwell died while on vacation with his wife and two little boys.” Silence while my heart sank to my stomach in disbelief.
Three days later and time to reflect, I have had time to shed a few tears and feel the pain of a loss of a friend from high school. To know Peter is to fully understand the magnitude of Peter’s loss.
Peter was one of those kids in high school that I referred to as an All-American kid. Every one respected him and liked him. He was quiet, smart, and focused. Peter was swimmer and a really successful swimmer in high school. He went to the University of South Carolina and swam for them – Division 1. He maintained his high level of athletic competitiveness as an adult and God took him while doing what he loved.
While on vacation with his wife, Mary Beth, and his two boys in Aurora, CO, Peter went out for a swim and a run with a friend. After the swim and shortly into the run, Atrial Fibrillation took his life. While other athletes rushed to him quickly and administered CPR, Peter never recovered and passed immediately.
Amazingly, Peter was a great athlete and in May of 2011, Peter trained and competed in the Miwok 2011 – a 100 Kilometer run. That is about the equivalent of running three Boston Marathons in one 24 hour period. Just an amazing accomplishment.
Inspired by the outpouring of people, I sit here continuing to reflect on all the people that Peter has touched with his genuine love of life, his love for his wife, and two little boys. With so much on her mind and grieving the loss of her boys, Mary Beth, Peter’s wife, has been responding to the people on Facebook (Visit Friends and Family of Peter Cadwell). “I know Peter is in a better place looking down on all the people whose lives he has touched. I find comfort and peace knowing how many people he has touched.” said Mary Beth only three days after the unexpected. Leaving her to make plans and think about raising their two boys with the sad loss of their dad. To read the posts and the amount of people responding is to realize that Peter was a special man, father, dad, athlete, husband, family man, and a friend.
At 40 years old I sit here and wonder why God had a plan for Peter to leave this life so early and to leave his wife without a husband and his boys without their father. Why is this in God’s plan? Why Peter? Why not me or someone else?
This is what inspires me every day. Life is short and the future is uncertain. We are not guaranteed the next few minutes or even tomorrow. We are not guaranteed the next week or next year. This means we must live every day as if it were the last. We must embrace moments in our lives and make them special moments.
At 40 years old I sit back as I am writing this and I think about three things we want in life. We want a life that is meaningful. A life that is rewarding and a life that is fulfilling. Peter had all three of these things. The question is how do we achieve these three things in our lives.
In my opinion, looking back at Peter’s life and the people he had inspired, I think there are three things you should do every day – Laugh! Think! Be Present! I think Peter was a man with a lot of great friends that were supportive and fun. I think wherever Peter was he was present in the moment. Seeing pictures of him and his boys and hearing people say, “Watching Peter with his boys was very special.” He loved his boys and loved to watch them laugh and he thought about his impact as a dad. He was present.
With life being short and time uncertain, these three things every day make for a great life. We don’t know what God’s plan is for us, but when God’s plan for me is up and it’s my time to go, I can only hope that the outpouring received from my loss can only be a little of what Peter is receiving. I am inspired by a man that has touched so many hearts in a genuine way. His loss is our loss. His boys have to grow up only hearing about how great a man their dad was. His wife has to move on and be strong while raising two boys only to think “Why?”
I hope in your time reading this you can sit back and think about your life and the impact you have on people. Your family and your friends and the time you laugh with each of them. I hope you can think about what is really important in your life. What is really important? Is it money? Is it earning money? Is it time with family and kids? Is it that special time with your significant other? The last question is, “Are you present in these special moments?”
I’m sorry Peter that God has taken you so soon. It doesn’t make sense to me either. I pray for your family and of course your beautiful wife Mary Beth. My thoughts and prayers are with your boys. I know that so many people are responding in great faith and Mary Beth and your boys will be taken care of.
In closing, Peter, I hope you are looking down and realizing the impact you have had on this world. No matter how big or small, you have made this world a better place and people are better off as a result of knowing you.
RIP Peter . . . Your loss has inspired me with a deeper heart and ingested the flame in my spirit. You will be missed!
Related articles
- Increased Risk Of Atrial Fibrillation Brought On By Cigarette Smoking (medicalnewstoday.com)