My story takes place six months ago when I met the love of my life, Michael. One of our first conversations began around my LOVE Giving Key necklace, that I wore almost every single day. When we began dating and I would go out with my friends for a girls night, Michael would pretend to lock up my heart with the 'key to my heart' necklace that I wore. Because ultimately my heart always belonged to him and he obtained the key.
You would never know by looking or talking to him, but Michael lived, fought and battled with Cystic Fibrosis for 24 years. He lived every single day he could to the fullest and he never let his disease stop him...ever. He showed me what true love was like, he opened my eyes to what happiness truly felt like and he LOVED life. My LOVE Giving Key was the very first one I ever purchased and to be honest I wasn't sure if I'd technically 'give it away' because I had never felt true love before until I met Michael.
My 24th birthday was June 24th, 2016 and Michael was sadly in the hospital, looking forward to potentially coming home and celebrating my birthday with me. However, only hours later did I receive the worst news of my entire life. My boyfriend began to gain his wings on my 24th birthday. I wore my Giving Key necklace that day and I remember holding on to it. I whispered all my love and my wishes into it when I sat next to him in the hospital.
On June 25th, 2016 the Love of my Life lost his battle to cystic fibrosis. He was a warrior, a fighter and he had the biggest heart I've ever felt or seen. Which is where my story comes to an end...the purpose of The Giving Keys is to give them away. To give them to someone that needs it more than you do. So on the day of his viewing I placed my LOVE Giving Key on his heart, to remind him that my heart belongs to him and to this day it will always be with him.
The saying for cystic fibrosis is "Just Breathe", so in honor of my boyfriend I carry the BREATHE key necklace around my neck.
I love you Michael Joseph.
-Chelsea
