Ken Latera

Ken Latera
Tribute

This story is about the loss of the love of my life, Ken Latera.

We met in 1991;  it was a case of love at first sight. We shared something so special that it can never be replaced. We were to be married in 1996. Unfortunately, we had some issues that arose that we, being young and foolish, let come between us. So we went our separate ways.

I married and had a son and he married but had no children. So… we fast forward to January 2010. Facebook is a wonderful way to reconnect with friends or family and thats exactly what we did. Being 40 years old now (15 years later) and through a lot of heartbreaks, I was a little apprehensive when Ken contacted me on Facebook and asked if we could meet. It took me 3 months to finally commit to a meeting time and place. On March 27, 2010, we met. Face to face for the first time in 15 years.

It was overwhelming and romantic. He looked exactly as I remembered him and my heart remembered him too. We talked and laughed and reminisced. We both apologized for everything that had happened in the past and forgave each other. It was beautiful. We saw each other only a few more times over the next 2 weeks, but Ken told me that he still loved me and wanted things to be the way they were. I was afraid but so happy. I had pretty much given in to the fact that my life would be without someone to love and someone to love me. I had been hurt so many times.

This was the beginning of a fairy tale love that started many years ago. We talked about writing the story and making a movie…he was funny like that. On April 10th, we went to dinner and then went back to my house to go through some old things that I had kept from our past. We ended up talking until 3am. Ken went home and the next day, we were texting one another and he stopped responding. So, I thought he was either busy or pouting because the Rangers lost their chance to make the playoffs.

Around 10pm, I called him. He said that he had been to the emergency room that afternoon and he had texted me but I never got it. He said he had excruciating pain and that when he went to the emergency room, they thought he had a gunshot wound in the abdomen because he was doubled over in pain. The diagnosis was a kidney stone. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) They gave him a strainer and pain medication and sent him home. On Monday, I called to see how he was feeling and he said not much better. He was still in terrible pain. I called again later that night but he didn’t answer, I thought he might be resting so I left a message.

On Tuesday, I received a text from Ken around 1 pm saying that he might not be able to keep our Friday night date because he had to go for emergency surgery. I asked if the stone was too large to pass and where he was but got no response. I called that night and there was no answer. I called on Wednesday, no answer. I called and texted on Thursday…no answer. On Friday, Ken’s sister contacted me. She was the only one who knew that Ken and I had reconnected and she knew how he felt about me. She told me that Ken was on life support and his prognosis was grim; he had gone into septic shock from the bacteria that had backed up into his kidneys from the kidney stone….. 3 weeks later the machines were turned off and….Ken died. My hopes, dreams, heart and soul went with him.

I spoke to Dr. Flatley, whose daughter is the reason for this website and he was wonderful. It gave me a little comfort just to talk to someone who had gone through the same thing. We understand each other’s pain. I am grateful to have stumbled across this website and to have a chance to add my story to the others who have experienced this terrible tragedy.

Source: by Lisa Apicella

Send us Your Story
Learn More about SepsisSupport Faces of Sepsis