Taking care of their needs

There are days that Tracey Vines sits and wonders why the Lord took her best friend from her more than a year ago. But as she celebrates the second Mother's Day without her husband Darrell, the laughter and smiles on the faces of her two young children push away those painful memories.

“They are my life and my heart,” Vines said about her children with a soothing smile. “I see so much of their father in each of them. They remember their daddy, and all of their memories are good. They love to go to Nana's (the home of Darrell's parents Joyce and Otis Vines) because she still lives where Darrell was raised, and there are lots of memories.”

Tracey and Darrell Vines first met on a blind date. Tracey said she recently had moved to Lenoir from Tennessee when some of her friends decided to try to set her up. She said her friends believed their personalities would be a match made in heaven, but it was first impressions that hooked Tracey for life.

“When I first saw Darrell, I thought he was the most gorgeous boy I had ever seen,” Vines said with a giddy smile. “I was nervous about going on that blind date, but I am glad I did.”

Tracey and Darrell were married in 1996 and set out on the path of life. Darrell worked for the Lenoir Fire Department, and Tracey said she quickly developed a routine to accommodate him being gone one of every three nights. When she became pregnant with Hunter, who is now 8, she said not a lot changed as she and Darrell learned together how to care for Hunter and be parents.

However, life quickly changed for the Vines family. One day after his 30th birthday, Darrell Vines was diagnosed with colon cancer. Tracey said it was devastating because she didn't know how she would raise a little boy and care for a husband with cancer. But, together they faced the battle. She said there were surgeries and there were treatments, but at no time did either of them give up, especially when Darrell's cancer went into remission.

In March 2004, Tracey said Darrell's cancer came back. She said hearing that news was tough because not only did things seem different that time, she also was seven months pregnant.

Despite being advised by doctors not to have any more children because of the effects Darrell's treatments could have, Tracey Vines gave birth to their daughter, Daryl-Hannah, on Mother's Day 2004. This was just days after Darrell was released from the hospital.

Tracey said things were tough, but with the help of family and friends, Tracey continued to press on and stay strong for everyone. No matter the time of day, Tracey Vines said she could call anyone and they would take the children so she could be by Darrell's side. Tracey said she is eternally grateful for their love and support.

Surrounded by his family and friends, Darrell's five-year battle with cancer came to an end March 14, 2007. Tracey Vines was left behind with two young children.

“It was hard at first because I was left with the overwhelming responsibility of raising two children, doing homework and still finding time to work,” Tracey Vines said. “I took some time off for a while so I could get things together. I am not sure if I ever will have it all together, but I figured out how to get through each day.”

Vines said her children give her the strength to get through each day, as well as her faith, family and friends. She said Hunter, who likes to cut up like Darrell did, often talks about trips he took with his father and about how he wants to work the same fire shift that he did. Daryl-Hannah, who doesn't know any strangers - like her father - tells Tracey that she can her see her daddy, and that she talks to him.

“It definitely is a roller coaster of emotions,” Tracey Vines said. “You wonder how to do things, but it all seems to work out. He has a purpose. The kids often tell me that they want their father back, but they don't want him to be sick anymore.”

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