I know Cristan Robinson-Nolfe from my current job.
I never had the pleasure of meeting her husband, but to talk about Cristan, one would have to mention her husband, Tony Nolfe. I’ve only known Cristan for six months, but it was quite obvious that her love for Tony was as strong as they come. Her desk was covered in photos that documented their lives together. Smiling, goofing around, making funny faces – her smile in those photos seemed brighter and wider than any smile of hers I’d ever seen when he wasn’t around. I can only guess that it was one of those unions where they completed one another in a way that transcends words or understanding.
They’d known each other since they were young teenagers, but came together as husband and wife in a small chapel in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in 2006. As their love grew even deeper and stronger, the rest of their young lives stretched out before them. There was no reason to believe anything could ever come between Cristan and Tony and their dream of realizing a long and prosperous life of love together.
It was shortly after they met years ago that Cristan found out about Tony’s heart problem. Called Endocarditis, Tony’s heart problem began when the site of routine dental surgery got infected and carried the infection into the valves of his heart, infecting them.
Even throughout numerous hospital stays and visits, Tony and Cristan were able to maintain full-time jobs. Even though Tony’s health had its ups and downs, one thing remained clear; Cristan was as devoted as ever to her husband, in sickness and in health.
Tony lost his battle with his weakened heart on July 20, 2008. He was only 31 years old.
November would have been their 2nd wedding anniversary.
This sad story took an even more tragic turn today as we got the news that Cristan had passed. Perhaps a life without Tony was too much for her to bear. She was 28.
I last saw her last week. I wish I could see her again.
I didn’t even notice that she’d cleared her desk of all the photos of her and Tony before she left last week. I wish I would have stopped in her doorway long enough to notice the empty desk. I wish…
Please say a prayer for the Robinson and Nolfe families.
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