Bicuspid Aortic Foundation "Memories of Carrie Godbey

Carrie was more than my wife, she was my best friend. That is what I miss most. Since mid August of 1995 we have been at each others side on an almost daily occasion. She is the highlight of my life.

Carrie's first love was God, and it showed on her face and in her life. She believed that Jesus was God's son and gave his life for our sins, that thru him we have everlasting life. She was active with her church working in the children's ministries.

Carrie's second love was her husband. We met at college, Murray State University, in August of 1995. We were soon dating and were at each others side from then on. We were married on May 12, 2000.

Her third love was her family. In good times and bad, her love never faltered. By family I mean the one she was born into, the one she married into, and the friends she gathered on the way.

Her next love was children. That love did not have any limits. She deeply cared for all kids. This love is the reason she became a teacher. Carrie taught kindergarten/first grade at a school that was on the other side of the city and in an underprivileged neighborhood. At first, it was just a place to teach, she had to start somewhere. It did not take long for her to fall in love with the kids. Even though it would have been easier and more convenient to teach at a school closer to home she stayed there. She wanted to put a positive spark in the kids' lives and to let them know that there was one more person in their lives that loved them. Every year she would come home and cry because of the conditions her students were being raised in. Every year at Christmas time she had her students write Santa a list. With the help of friends, family, and my co-workers, Carrie was able to help Santa answer those requests. I would visit her at school at least once a school year, and it was obvious that the love she had for her students was returned back to her.

Carrie was born with a condition called Turner Syndrome. She had a bicuspid heart valve and was born without ovaries. She found out about the Turner Syndrome at around 10 to12 years old. She was told that she could not have children of her own. Due to medical technology we found a way that her dream could come true. We underwent invitro-fertilization. We found out that she was pregnant with twins in December 2005.

On June 25th, 2006, Carrie went to the emergency room because of a pain in her chest. She had experienced an aortic dissection, a slight tear from the aorta to the heart. At 4:25 am on June 26th, Sydney and Logan were born. I held the kids for her as she gave them their first kiss. Those few minutes were all the time she got to spend with them. Later that day Carrie experienced another tear. This time her body could not handle it. She died around 1 pm that afternoon.

The biggest impact Carrie made on me was at her wake and funeral. I do not know how many people came, but there was a lot more than I thought there would be. It seemed like everybody she had ever met made it a point to come or send word. This is what I heard over and over from the people who came, Carrie always had a smile on her face and she showed everybody that she cared and loved them. That is the inspiration for the rest of my life. Carrie affected everybody she met in a positive way. If we could do the same, the world would be a better place.
- Lawrence Godbey