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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Oh Carolyn, I am SO very sorry for this deep loss. The heartbreak you, and your children, must be experiencing is unimaginable. Please accept my heartfelt condolences and know that you have a whole community to help in any way possible. I had already pre-purchased your protein cookbook, and await its shipment, and I will continue scrolling through and interacting with recipes and posts during your time away. Do whatever is necessary to move through the days ahead and know we will all be here when you’re ready to re-engage. Until then, thought, prayers and many hugs to you, your family and to all who were touched by Tim’s time on earth. Blessings to you all!
So very sorry for your loss. He sounds like an amazing human being that you deserved in your life.
My deepest condolences for the anguish of an unexpected death. Please take time for you and for your family.
When you’re ready, please consider a conversation with Tim’s physician about genetic testing and risk for your children, especially if it means accessing screening to prevent another unexpected tragedy. Much love for you.
Carolyn, I am so sorry for your loss you and your family are in my prayers.
Carolyn I’m so sorry to hear your devastating news. Keep your chin up. Thank you for transforming my Keto life with your fantastic recipes.
My thoughts are with you & all your family. Take time for yourself. We will be all looking forward to whatever you feel you can manage online etc. all the best 🥰. Karen from Auckland, NZ
I am heartbroken for you even though I don’t know you personally, I could feel your depth of grief and love in your words.
You have helped me immensely to keep my blood sugar readings under control (due to severe hypoglycemia), with your amazing recipes. I look forward to purchasing your new book.
Sending warm big hugs and lots of love from Melbourne, Australia. I will be thinking of you and your family as you all navigate this incredibly sad time.
Love, Raewyn Hardie. xxxx
so sorry that your husband has departed us….wishing you the best
Oh my gosh – I am SO sorry to read this tragic news. I can’t imagine what you & your children are going through. Please know that many, MANY people are praying for all of you. I hope you can take the time you all need to grieve and figure out your next steps. My deepest condolences.
Thinking of you and your family. Tim sounds like such a lovely person and wonderful father. I will be keeping you a your family in my prayers. Victoria
So sorry for your loss Carolyn. You and yours will be in my prayers
I’m so sorry for your loss…❤️🩹
I’m so sorry for your loss and will pray for your family and your healing.
What a terrible ordeal for you and your family. I am so sorry and I am sending you my deepest condolences.
I am so very sorry for your loss! Prayers for you and your family!
Carolyn, My deepest condolences. I cannot imagine the shock and the loss. Please take care of yourself. Don’t worry about us. Do what works for you.
Thank you for all that you do. You were fortunate to have each other. You are in our thoughts. <3
Thank you for reaching out in such a beautiful post & sharing pictures of your amazing hubby – very handsome! I’m so very sorry for this tragic loss & I will keep you in my prayers. And keep looking for your recipes I have enjoyed for several years 🙏🏻♥️🙏🏻 The Lord bless you & keep you