Munira Premji

 

“Munira, you and I are on a parallel journey. We are going to fight this together.”

I still remember Tony Gemmiti saying this to me, with such optimism, with such hope, at the Multiple Myeloma Walk on June 22nd, just a couple of weeks ago. Never could I have imagined these would be the last words I’d ever hear him say.

I vividly remember the first time I met Mary and Tony Gemmiti.  On a cold February afternoon earlier this year, the couple entered the Multiple Myeloma Support Group meeting, fresh snowflakes on their coats. Tony had been diagnosed with Myeloma in October 2012 and had his stem cell transplant in December 2013. This support group was his first outing after the transplant.

As the meeting progressed, I watched Mary and Tony in admiration. It was hard not to notice them.  They were playful with each other, often stealing glances at each other. They finished each other’s sentences.  They joked with each other.  They had an easy comfort about them that comes from being together happily for 30 years.  It was obvious they had a rich life and a great marriage.  He proclaimed that she was the best caregiver possible – – and she agreed!

We hit it off with the Gemmiti’s immediately, and they included us in their world. Over the next few months, Mary and I kept in touch with each other, mostly through Facebook and my blog.  I so admire Mary – – she is the epitome of grace and strength and beauty.  Alas, Tony’s second stem cell transplant in March 2014 did not take.  He was then put on a clinical trial and they were so optimistic that a miracle would occur.

I saw Mary again at the next Myeloma Support Group meeting in May.  She came alone this time as Tony was not well enough.  We talked, we cried, we laughed and we hugged – partners in this club of cancer.

Mary and I spoke about the upcoming Journey to Conquer Cancer-Multiple Myeloma Walk.  She immediately took on the challenge and next thing I know, she and Tony amassed an army of what looked like hundreds of participants to join the “Gemm Team” and walk for the cause.  The Gemm Team finished in the top 3 teams of fundraisers and raised a whopping $32,500!

When I met Mary at the walk last month, she introduced me to the team and her family, including her two sons, Michael and Robert, and again I felt immediately enveloped by the all-encompassing love in the Gemmiti family, as if I had known them forever.

 

Tony Gemmiti, with Dr. Rodger Tiedemann, Munira and Mary Gemmiti
Tony Gemmiti, with Dr. Rodger Tiedemann, Munira and Mary Gemmiti

 

I was so delighted to see Tony at the Walk.  Although he was a shadow of himself and had lost a lot of weight, he had that mischievous smile and the bright eyes were still very much there.  We made a vow that day to keep fighting together.

Four days after the walk, Mary wrote to me to say that Tony was taken off the clinical trial and being put in Palliative care.  She said that we could come and see him at the hospital.  I cried as I heard this news.  I did not feel strong enough to see Tony right away and told her that I would come and visit the following week.   I never saw Tony again.  He passed away last Thursday afternoon.

As sad as I am, I am so proud of how Tony chose to live the last days of his life.  He accepted that his time had come and he invited friends, family and colleagues to the hospital to talk, joke and say goodbye.  Throngs of well-wishers stormed through the halls of the hospital, and Tony and Mary welcomed them all with open arms – Gemmiti style!

Nagib, Sabrina and I went to Tony’s viewing over the weekend.  We saw pictures of Tony as a hockey and baseball coach; relaxing while on vacation; even a picture of Mary and Tony as newly-weds — and I wished I had known them for longer.  At the viewing, again we were struck by the love in the room.  If the wealth of a person is counted by the people who love them, then Tony Gemmiti is the richest man of all.  Tony died as he lived — on his own terms, with the love of family and friends surrounding him.  His loss will be felt deeply by all who knew and loved him.

I often forget that I have cancer and this past weekend, seeing Tony, was a reminder of the world that I am a part of.  For the first time, I wondered about how long I had to live.  I witnessed the effect that death has on care-givers as they lose a loved one.  I questioned the insanity of it all.  I need to sit with this for awhile and make sense of this.  Mary told me that, on one of his last days, Tony said that although he could not be saved from this devastating illness, he was optimistic that the funds raised for the Journey to Conquer Cancer will help other patients.  So, to keep Tony’s dream alive, I will continue to fight and battle the cancer, and I will keep Tony’s memory in my heart every day.

 

9 Comments

  • Anonymous , January 9, 2015

    What an amazing Soul you are. May Almighty bless you & your family everyday.
    Lots of hugs & kisses
    The Jadavji’s – Pickering

  • Anonymous , July 15, 2014

    Munira, I’m just getting caught up on your Blogs. They have such an impact. I hope you call me the next time you are in Toronto. I miss you. Love, Patti.

  • Bob Boulton , July 14, 2014

    Munira, thank you for sharing this story in the way that you have – simultaneously vulnerable and joyful, heartfelt and thoughtful as always.

  • Anonymous , July 12, 2014

    My dear Munira…..and everyone else who reads this….I’m the “Mary” in Tony & Mary. I don’t know how you did this Munira, but you nailed it. He was my best friend. I miss him terribly. Thru this journey of “cancer” I have met so many wonderful people. People like you. Families like you. The day of the walk will always be remembered as a great day. During his thank you speech he told us all about hearing Lou Gehrigs speech one day. It was near his last days when he was being interviewed that he said he was the luckiest man in the world. At that time, Tony said he didn’t get it. How could he possibly feel like the luckiest man in the world? ……but on June 22, at the Walk, he told us all, that he was the luckiest man in the world. Munira, please know that your kind words that day to Tony made him feel wonderful. Anyone who knows you, is very lucky Munira. Thank you for this blog.
    With much love and affection,
    Mary

    • Premji Family , July 13, 2014

      Dearest Mary – – I am so grateful that our lives came together and we became friends under trying circumstances. I continue to keep Tony in my prayers, as I do you and your sons. Tony was indeed the luckiest man in the world because he had you and the love of family and friends. Mary – – you are stuck with the Premji family forever. You are part of our family…. With love, Munira

  • lucy , July 11, 2014

    Munira, your story always impact me. i hope i will meet you again in person. met you once when Sabrina was working with us but it has been different when i read this blog-very different. Sometimes i share emotions though far and at times have to shed a tear (like now). And happy that you write-May God bless you mightily. Sorry for this loss and again thank God for your courage. Love you so!

  • Lynda nd Dave , July 9, 2014

    Munira, we are so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend Tony.

  • Parin Sunderji , July 8, 2014

    Dear Munira.

    You have touched more lives than you realize, with your regular blogs. You have made us all very aware that life is fragile – in sickness or in health. We need to live knowing that it will end one day – sooner for some and later for others.

    Measuring wealth by the love you receive is the only way to measure wealth.

    Thanks for your blog and for sharing your innermost feelings with us.

  • Shahnaz Suteria , July 8, 2014

    Sometimes Munira, knowing a person for even a short while, is like a lifetime of a special friendship and yet other times, we might know a person all our lives and find out that we really did not know them. The Gemmiti’s footprints of a relationship on the Premji family are enough to last the rest of the lifetime! God Bless.

    For Tony:
    “He walks with us down quiet paths
    And speaks in wind and rain,
    For the magic power of memory
    gives him back to us again.”

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