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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Caroline, my heart goes out to you. It was heartbreaking reading your words. In a month, it will be four years since my own funny, wonderful husband died unexpectedly after a diagnosis four days before & he never had symptoms. It was three weeks before our 30th anniversary. While you have this time of immense sadness & loss, you will get through it. Trust me, I still miss him every day, however, my friends from Hospice helped me get out of my fog after six months. Take offers of help from your family & friends. I enjoy your recipes so much! Sending you good wishes.
Carolyn,
I am so absolutely broken-hearted for you and your family. As part of the Low Carb Keto community, I have followed you for a very long time. I have most a
of your cookbooks and I love them and the beautiful pics of your kids you included in them.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss, prayers out to you and your family, take the time you need. We will all be here for you.!
I am a newer follower and I want you to know how sorry I am to hear of the loss of you beloved. I hope you can find the strength to wake each day and do the best that you can knowing that some days that means just waking up. Much love and many hugs to you and your family and friends.
I’m so sorry. I lost my father suddenly under similar circumstances. I know the shock and grief you are feeling and I say a prayer for you and your family.
Carolyn,
My sincere condolences. May your strength, friends, and family help you through this harsh loss.
I have 2 of your books that I use regularly. I greatly appreciate your work and dedication. Thank-you.
Regards,
Debra
Keeping you & yours in my thoughts & prayers!
Oh Carolyn this is such a difficult trial and I will be praying for you and the children that God will help you as you walk this uncertain path.
I have almost lost my husband three times, one most recently and even though I cannot empathize totally I know part of the uncertainty that comes with this trial. Please take care of yourself you are so important to all of us here in the YouTube community. ❤❤❤❤❤🙏
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Ehler’s Danlos runs in my family. I have the connective tissue type.
It’s heartbreaking news, for certain.
I’m going to donate a quilt to the new Ehler’s Danlos research center opening at University of Virgina in 2006.
Many people in Central New York have applied for their new study.
Bless you! He will always be with you.
I am so so sorry for your loss Carolyn. My son-in-laws 2 sisters & 1 brother have the same genetic condition (but not my son-in-law & 1 brother), which they inherited from their father. Thank you for all you do & may memories comfort you my dear.
So sorry to learn about what happened. I’m sure you must still be in shock. Please do not feel pressure tonight share recipes on social media. Allow time for grieving and taking care of your family.
Prayers for you and your family. You have helped me find a whole new healthy way of cooking with your delicious, no fail recipes. Thank you for openly sharing your grief with all of us that have followed your cookbooks and social media for years. We will continue to support you.❤️
Wishing you peace and healing. Please take time to grieve in whatever way you need. Pre-ordered your book. can’t wait for it to arrive ❤️.
May Tim rest in peace and may peace be with you.
I just preordered your latest book.
I’m lighting a candle for Tim to help guide him on his otherworldly journey. May his soul continue to shine brightly and may you, and your children, find peace. *hugs*
Carolyn, my heart aches for you. There are no words. Do whatever you need to take of you and your children. This sudden loss is certainly disorienting, and you will hopefully find your bearings and your way. It is my hope for you and your family that Tim’s memory and the place he holds forever in your hearts can perhaps light the way.
Namaste