Patrick Swayze's Widow: "I Feel Every Contour of His Hand in Mine"

Us Magazine - October 30, 2009 3:50 PM PDT
Story photo: Patrick Swayze's Widow: Denise Truscello/WireImage.comUs Magazine

On The Oprah Winfrey Show Friday, Patrick Swayze's widow Lisa Niemi spoke candidly about losing her husband just six weeks ago to pancreatic cancer.

She told Winfrey that Swayze initially was given around three months to live when he was first diagnosed two years ago.

He managed fight the disease for 22 months.

"When we first had the diagnosis, I cried in front of him," she told Winfrey, according to Entertainment Tonight, which has posted an excerpt of the interview. "I said, 'This is the one time I'm going to do this...'

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"When he looked at me and looked in my eyes, I wanted him to know he was going to be OK, no matter what," she continued. "Both of us had to deal with this illness, but he's the one that was going to pay the ultimate price."

When he passed away on Sept. 14 at age 57, he was "very comfortable," she said, noting that she was by his side the entire time. "I was afraid to leave his side, and luckily I was so happy I was there," she told Winfrey.

Watch Patrick Swayze's most unforgettable on-screen moments

Since his passing, she said she still feels him around her.

"I could so easily feel every contour of his hand in mine," she said.

Asked if Swayze believed in life after death, Niemi said he "had this very realistic side, where he said, 'I can't be 100 percent sure, but I'm gonna find out.'"

Niemi told Winfrey she has learned a lot from losing her husband. "You end up living a lot more in the moment...," she said. "You realize that we don't have anybody for long, and we don't even have our own lives for long."

See Us' photo tribute to stars who have gone too soon

Added Niemi (who was married to the actor for 34 years): "I've been really blessed to have a man who always believed in me and who thought I was smart and beautiful and good ... and I hope I can continue to prove him right, that he was right about me."

Earlier this week, Niemi spoke at the Women's Conference 2009, hosted by Maria Shriver and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Long Beach, Calif.

See today's top celeb news photos

During a roundtable discussion on Grief, Healing and Resilience, she said she was relying on friends to get her though this difficult time.

"I have a few girlfriends that are just amazing. They have made themselves available to me 24/7. They say, 'We don't care if it's 2 in the morning, call me'," she said. "I was in the middle of a full-blown panic attack one evening ... and I picked up the phone and called one, which is really hard for me to do because I'm used to being so self-sufficient and taking care of myself, but the very act of picking the phone up to call someone helped to calm me."

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comments 1-8 of 11  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Latasha C
    I had such a big crush on her husband in dirty dancing, these two define what Hollywood marriages should be!
    report abuseposted November 12, 2009 8:46 PM PST
  • InnoEST!
    What a beautiful woman. Keeping her in my prayers. Not a doubt in my mind her husband made it to heaven where he belongs. We love you Patrick.
    report abuseposted November 5, 2009 12:20 AM PST
  • cool person
    Lisa you had a good man and i believe he will be waiting for you at the end of the rainbow when god comes for you, i wish i would have had a good husband that cared that much for me like you had, as for now enjoyed this life we have here that is the way Patrick would have wanted it, i know the pain of a love one gone but i know that i will see them one day!!! god speed to you!!!!
    report abuseposted November 3, 2009 11:08 PM PST
  • cool person
    Lisa you had a good man and i believe he will be waiting for you at the end of the rainbow when god comes for you, i wish i would have had a good husband that cared that much for me like you had, as for now enjoyed this life we have here that is the way Patrick would have wanted it, i know the pain of a love one gone but i know that i will see them one day!!! god speed to you!!!!
    report abuseposted November 3, 2009 11:08 PM PST
  • cool person
    Lisa you had a good man and i believe he will be waiting for you at the end of the rainbow when god comes for you, i wish i would have had a good husband that cared that much for me like you had, as for now enjoyed this life we have here that is the way Patrick would have wanted it, i know the pain of a love one gone but i know that i will see them one day!!! god speed to you!!!!
    report abuseposted November 3, 2009 11:08 PM PST
  • Ronda
    TO KLEMON63-- THAT IS VERY CRUEL THAT YOU PUT A WEBSITE 'WEALTHYONLYCOM. To lose your true love is the worst feeling in the world. Its horrible of you to to comment with this website.
    report abuseposted October 31, 2009 6:16 PM PDT
  • Fhhj
    LOL... Search "ec4bag" on google to Get High quality luxury bags, 100% genuine leather, only $98-$198, Free shipping worldwide, WOW... Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Fendi, Coach, Miu Miu, Dior, Hermes, Chloe, D&G and UGG boots
    report abuseposted October 31, 2009 2:32 AM PDT
  • E C
    God bless her, i wish her the best in this difficult time! I'm sure Patrick is watching over her, making sure she's ok.
    report abuseposted October 30, 2009 5:49 PM PDT
comments 1-8 of 11  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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