77-year old George Pittman died of chest aneurysm, mostly caused by a broken heart, after losing his beloved wife Pat.
On November 13, Mrs. Pat Pittman was admitted to the University Hospital of North Tees in Cleveland, Ohio after her doctors found a shadow in one of her lungs. Ever since she was confined, her loving husband George refused to leave her side.
George, himself was ill and was urged by nurses and doctors to be confined at James Cook Hospital which is ten miles away from where Pat was. Despite the urgency of their medical advise, George stayed with his wife, giving the nurses no choice but to put up a bed in the same room as Pat's.
Succumbing to her illness, Pat breathed her last in the hospital with her husband holding her hand. As she was slipping away, George softly whispered "just close your eyes, I'm coming with you".
21 hours later, George fulfilled his promise to his dying wife. He died of a chest aneurysm brought on by the years of illness and the sad loss of his dear wife of 55 years.
A chest aneurysm (also known as thoracic aortic aneurysm), is when a bulge forms on the interior wall of the aorta. The formation is often caused by a blood clot. The sight of the formation weakens and is aggravated by hypertension. Age is one of the primary factors that contribute to fatalities tied to aneurysms.
After finding out George's cause of death, doctors and their children admitted that George literally died of a broken heart.
George and Pat are survived by 5 children and their spouses, 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. A joint funeral for the inseparable couple was prepared by their family.
In a heartwarming twist to the end of their love story, the couple's eldest daughter Jacqueline Gofton shared that her father asked the nurse who was tending to him what her name was. To his pleasant surprise, the nurse answered "Pat".