Dear readers,
These are the hardest words I will ever have to write. My husband, Tim Ketchum, died suddenly last week of what was first thought to be an abdominal aneurysm. Doctors now think he may have had a genetic connective tissue disorder that weakened the structure of his aorta.
He was my partner in every sense of the word. He was my best friend, my confidante, my safe place. And oh, he was such an amazing father. He shared the burden of raising our three children with gusto, being present in a way that most dads will never be.
Everyone who ever met Tim loved him. Even people who only met him in passing were charmed by him. Warm, compassionate, loving, thoughtful. And funny as hell! I fell in love with him because he made me laugh. And even as life became more complicated and serious, we never lost that connection, that goofiness and silliness that made every situation easier to bear.
I feel compelled to share here because I am not quite sure what the future looks like. Certainly for the near term, I will be scaling back my time on All Day I Dream About Food so I can focus on my family and my grief. You will still see posts and recipes from me, but I don’t quite know with what frequency. I will be taking the easy route, updating older posts and sharing simple recipes. I have a backlog of some already that I can share over the next few weeks. I also have help with my social media and I am every so grateful to Stephanie, who has taken over my Facebook page completely for now.
Then again, I may decide to lose myself in the process of baking and create some amazing keto cakes. I honestly don’t know what I want or what I need right now. But I ask that you give me grace for not answering your questions in a timely fashion.
How you can help
I am so fortunate to have created an amazing community of readers and followers, some of whom have been with me for over a decade. I know many of you will want to help in some way. And I am grateful for your thoughts and your kindness.
The best thing you can do is keep coming to my website, reading my posts (both new and old), and sharing my posts on social media. Share to groups, share with friends, and pin my recipes to your Pinterest boards. This website has been my family’s source of income for many years now and views will generate much needed ad revenue. I know that ads can be cumbersome, but I ask that you take time to scroll through each post a little bit.
Another great way to help me is to purchase my cookbooks. In particular, pre-order my upcoming book, The Protein Advantage. I will not have much time to promote it now, but it’s something I worked so hard on. I would love to see it succeed and pre-orders make a huge difference to the overall sales of the book. It helps retailers decide how many copies they want to keep on their shelves. And I can assure you, it’s a book worthy of your time.
Thank you for reading. If you are a spiritual person, please send up some thoughts for the wonderful Tim Ketchum. He was a light in the world and touched so many people. I can say confidently that if you had met him, you would have loved him.
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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I am very sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your children.
Carolyn my heart is breaking for you & your family.
My thoughts & prayers for your beloved Tim & you and all your children & everyone Tim’s bright light touched.
Take all the time you need.
Much love
Gone but never forgotten! Praying for you and your family to find peace that transcends all understanding through your faith. May your memories bring you and your family comfort always.
The death of a loved one is a tragic and a very emotional personal experience made worse by this sudden and unexpected passing. Allow yourself time to grieve and heal. Your supporters will understand!
With heartfelt sympathy, Laura
my thoughts and prayers are with you. there are no words of comfort that seem anywhere sufficient for loss of this magnitude. any loss is difficult but sudden and unexpected losses multiply the sorrow.
Oh Carolyn, I’m so sorry. May you find comfort in the days and years to come. I’ve just said a prayer for Tim, you, and your children. Sending you healing energy from San Diego.
I am so sorry for your loss and your family’s loss. I give you my condolences and wish you peace in your grieving journey
sincerely
Karen
Aw Carolyn it’s so devastating to here the news of the loss of your husband may God take care of him 🙏 and my he help you heal 🙏 💙 one day at a time you are a strong woman lean on family and friends 💙 we are all here for you with love your baker fans
I am so sorry, Carolyn, Tim sounds like a wonderful man and father. May you find some solace in this time of grief and know that we are thinking of you,
So very sorry for your loss, sending light & love to you and yours during this time. You will be together again one day and he will be watching over you until that day. Best wishes for your family and friends.
Beth
Oh my goodness ! What a complete shock and disbelief for you and your family. I cannot find words, other than to say, I’m so sorry. I’m sending prayers for you and your family to find your way thru this unimaginable grief. Please know that your supporters and fans are with you in support and spirit.
FYI – I preordered your new cookbook sometime ago and cannot wait to get it.
Absolutely heartbreaking news. I can barely imagine your grief, and I wish you and your family all the best as you navigate your way through this next chapter.
I am so very sorry for the tragic loss of your husband. I so appreciate you and all the wonderful recipes and wonderful information you provide. Please do not feel pressure to put us all on hold while you grieve. There are so many things to take care of when a loved one passes away; you need time and to be with your family. Praying for you to feel God’s comfort in this sorrowful time. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you navigate the next steps.
I had the privilege of meeting him what an amazing man My deepest sypthies. Love Joyce
Carolyn,
I am so sorry for your great loss. I am praying for comfort and healing for you. You are blessed to have had such a partner in life.
I will continue to support your site and will purchase a cookbook.
God bless you and your children as you find your way to healing and peace,
Sheryl
I have been a faithful follower for so many years. I am so very sorry for your family’s loss. May your memories of your husband help you through this time of immense grief.
Oh my Carolyn — what terrible news! My sincere condolences on the loss of your Tim. I can’t even begin to imagine the depth of grief you and your family are in. Please know that your fans are devoted to you and the work you do — speaking for myself, you’ve given me a better way of living and taking care of myself. I’m sure we’ll be here when you’re ready—but please take all the time you need as this will be quite a rollercoaster and hit you at the most unexpected times. Hold the memories close to you and cherish the love you both shared. With all my thoughts and prayers (and virtual hugs), Daphne (a fellow Canuck)