After almost losing her husband, the couple celebrates 50 years in love

Three surgeries, 75-day hospital stay can’t derail Henry’s milestone

NBA Finals MVP Wilt Chamberlain would lead the Lakers past the New York Knicks for their first championship in Los Angeles.

Richard Nixon was the president, and yet to be impeached.

The Godfather was the top-grossing movie that year, pulling in $287 million dollars.

Don McLean’s epic musical poem, “American Pie” topped the Billboard charts that weekend.

Gas cost only 36 cents and gallon. Milk was 52 cents a gallon.

And Bridget and Don Henry were married in Azusa.

The date was January 15, 1972

The former history teacher, who retired in 2018, and retired cabinet maker and installer recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Returning to where it began

They celebrated at their “honeymoon spot” in San Diego. But it wasn’t just the two of them. Bridget and Don invited along with them their three “wonderful” children and four “beautiful” grandchildren, taking them all to Seaworld to celebrate this joyous and momentous, half-century achievement.

“As I told them,” Bridget said. “If we had not gotten married 50 years ago, none of them would have been here today. They are a huge part of our story and celebration.”

In today’s society where so many marriages end in divorces before 10 years, how were Bridget and Don able to make it to 50 years?

Keys to a successful marriage

“Our marriage is based on a long relationship with each other, and a special friendship,” said Bridget. “It turned into wanting to be together as long as we can. We knew we were marrying our best friend.”

Having a pair of good role models helped.

“We decided to do what seemed to have worked for both our parents’ marriages,” Bridget said. “Always be honest with one another, and always let the other one know if something is wrong.

“Not having to ask ‘what’s wrong?’ and the one saying ‘nothing.’ We never have been the argumentative type, so really have never fought nor gone to bed mad.”

Engaged at homecoming

Bridget and Don grew up in Rowland Heights, attended Rowland Elementary, Alvarado Middle School, and John A Rowland High School together.

“We started ‘going steady’ in middle school, which of course is term kids don’t use today,” Bridget said. “The big thing back then was to get that boy’s class ring, and, of course, I got his.

“We became engaged at the homecoming of our senior year in 1970.”

Both were young (18 and 19 years old) when they were wed, and neither had a job. Didn’t this add any stress or burden on their new marriage?

“No, since we never had money, we never had to fight over it. We never had this is your money and this is my money. In our case, it was one checking account.”

Worried about their honeymoon upgrade

They were worried about being able to afford the room during their three-day honeymoon in San Diego at the Catamaran Resort.

“I still remember walking into the room and seeing the TV. It was so old it had a round screen, but it wouldn’t work,” Bridget said.

Since the repairman couldn’t fix it, they gave the honeymooners a new, nicer room.

“This room had a small kitchen, living room, and nice bathroom and bedroom,” Bridget said. “We told them we couldn’t afford this room, but the manager said don’t worry about it. The room will not cost you anything.

“It was a nice way to start our marriage.”

‘No doubt in my mind’

Commitment to each other was also taken seriously.

“We committed that we would go ten years and let each other know if we were still happy as we were from day one,” Bridget said.

Don’s 10th-adversary card to Bridget said it all, “Another ten years, no doubt in my mind.”

“And that was it,” said Bridget. “So we set our next goal for 20 (years). We felt since we already had two children that divorce was not something we wanted — hence the twenty-year goal.

“The kids would be old enough after twenty years if one of us wanted out, they — most likely — would be okay.”

Getting the shocking news

Then along came their third child, Lindsey.

“We were married 17 years when we found out we would be having a third child,” said Bridget. “We were in shock.”

The Henrys’ other two children were 14-years-old (Brian) and 10-years-old (Renee) at the time.

Don delivered another of his short, but sweet, classic, and timely Hallmark cards that read: “Another 18 years, no doubt in my mind.”

Lindsay, “a joy since birth,” was born on April 5, 1989, and followed in mom’s footsteps, teaching history at Shadow Hills Middle School.

Setting their goal of 50

“After that, we knew we would now set the goal of fifty years,” Bridget said. “The older we got, we knew how special it is to stay together for the kids and grandkids.”

Brian, 47, is a regional sales manager for a commercial landscaping company. He and his wife, Angie, have two boys: Jalen, 20, who never misses a UCLA football game, and Austin, 16.

Renee, 43, works as a noon duty for the Bear Valley School District. Renee and her husband, Justin Hart, have twins Hayden and Avery, who are seven years old.

Don and Bridget both enjoy football and specifically UCLA Bruins football as they have both had season tickets since 2000.

“Sports have been a big part of our family,” Bridget said. “The best part is getting together with our kids and watching away games on TV. We also, of course, love tailgating and setting up chairs, TV, and eating, but the best is being at home, yelling at the TV.

The couple also enjoys rooting for their two grandchildren on the gridiron. Grandson Hayden making tackles for his youth football team, and sister Avery, shaking her pom-poms and yelling proudly as a cheerleader on the sidelines.

Obstacle to overcome

Sadly, a few years back Bridget wasn’t sure the 50-year-old milestone could be achieved.

“When we were going to be married for 47 years, Don was put into the hospital, and had a 75-day stay in the hospital and rehab.”

Don blew out his back and had to have back surgery. Though the surgery was successful, he had to be sent back to the hospital 10 days later due to spinal fluid leaking, which caused a horrible infection and spinal meningitis. This led to another surgery.

Don had to be treated in the ICU for a week for two blood clots, and a third surgery.

Four weeks later, Don was assigned a grueling rehab since he wasn’t able to walk. After five weeks, he was still experiencing lots of pain because they gave him too much blood thinner, and rushed to another hospital for emergency surgery due to bleeding in his stomach. Then it was another three weeks of rehab, which didn’t go well, but his infection was finally gone.

Bridget decided to bring him home for his mental state.

‘I went to the hospital 75 days straight’

“It was difficult because he wasn’t physically ready to come home, but I knew he was done.

At-home physical therapy was assigned to allow him to walk again, and, thankfully Don can walk fairly well today.

“I almost lost him twice. I went to the hospital every day for 75 days straight until I was able to bring him home.”

True love, commitment,t and dedication

“Now that we have made 50 (years), I told (Don) we have a new goal. I want (to make it to) 65 years now, and then he can be free if he wants to be.”

Don couldn’t be happier, more in love, and more ready to reach that next goal of 65 years of a devoted, supportive marriage

“My life wouldn’t have been as wonderful and as loving had we not been married all those years,” Don said. “I would not have wanted to be with anyone else.

“I know our marriage is as strong now as it was when we first got married.”

Thanks for reading.

Tagging a few people who might enjoy this: Scot Butwell, Scott Younkin, Sreese, Adelina Vasile, Deborah Camp, Jan Sebastian, Bernie Pullen, Janet Meisel, Pam Winter, Amanda Payne, Sarah Jean, Cher Scarlett, Vincent Chen, MarkfromBoston 🐾🍻, Kristine Laco

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