Swayze's Widow Speaks: 'I Would Love to See You,' Patrick

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 31st 2009 09:21AM

Speaking out for the first time on television since the death of her husband Patrick Swayze, Lisa Niemi, the 'Dirty Dancing' star's wife of 34 years is opening up to Oprah Winfrey about her loss.

Niemi, who married Swayze while both were still in their 20s, says that when Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, "it was mind numbing." She goes on to tell Winfrey that "you think you're going to get these terrific illuminations," she says (via PEOPLE), but that didn't happen. "I looked around and I said, 'This is awful.' "

Niemi says that when it came to his disease and likely fate, Swayze "had this very realistic side" that made dealing with the likelihood of death easier for him. "He said, 'I can't be 100 percent sure, but I'm going to find out.'"

In the last days of his life, Niemi says that Swayze was heavily medicated and not really conscious of his surroundings or that she was by his side. She tells Winfrey that she experienced feelings when the couple's animals had died, and she "was wondering if I would feel the same thing with Patrick. And I didn't."

Swayze passed away on September 14 at the age of 57. He battled his cancer for 22 months, which is 19 months more than his initial diagnosis.

"I feel like he hasn't left. I can feel every contour of his hand in mine," Niemi says.

Swayze's spiritual character in his hit film 'Ghost' also comes up in the conversation with Oprah, as Niemi says she wishes life were like the movie, where Swayze's ghost was visible to others.

"Now I'm like, 'Please show yourself. I would love to see you,'" Niemi sadly says.

As she struggles to move on with life after her husband, Nieme says that Swayze always believed in her and her courage, and that she hopes she "can continue to prove that he was right about me."

In the years before his diagnosis, Swayze was deeply depressed and drank heavily, Niemi says, causing her to leave him for a year. "He was imploding pretty badly ... I didn't think he was going to live through it and I didn't want to watch that.," she says.

Tags: lisa niemi, LisaNiemi, oprah, oprah winfrey, OprahWinfrey, Patrick Swayze, PatrickSwayze

Comments

(14)

Saturday 31 October

By Angiebaby

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Living without being able to see the ones you love is damn near unbearable, and it never gets any better. November. Another damnable month. Coming soon to a heartache near you.

By jayne

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I know of, and feel your pain. It's hard. Very hard. But, hopefully someday we'll be reunited with our lost loved ones. God bless you.

By connie blizzard

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Thank you Lisa for coming out so soon after your loss and telling your story. I personally think you are an amazing & strong woman. Your heartache was so easily seen in each word you spoke. I have read the new book and its like having a conversation with you and Patrick. The book just draws you right in. Thank you so much for sharing him with us all these years and I wish only the best for you in the coming months & years. I also want to wish you a loving Holiday Season.
A loving fan, Connie

By Daniel

Trust in God and your faith will get you through it dosen't get better maybe a little eaiser I know from experiance.

By rdalisa

It is so hard to loose a loved one my mom passed away August 8th. Death is never easy and what makes it hard with my mom is the hospital neglected her, they overdosed her on medicine.It would have been so much easier if she passed on her own.

By scottnsandrac

They did the same thing to my mom. its a helpless feeling when its already done and theres nothing you can do about it. Sorry for your loss.

By sally

relizing that GOD is everywhere His here and his more important than anyone being with him is more important his the creator we are his creation I'm praying for I liked Patrick God loves you

By Lillian

You may not see him but he is there. Tenderly watching over you and your family. What you are facing is really hard and only someone who have lost someone can truly relate. The decent will try and contact only if you stay open to allow them entrance.

By Deb

Oprah ruined the interview. Lisa was trying to get her thoughts into meaningful sentences and Oprah kept interupting her train of thought. Oprah would not let Lisa finish her thoughts and kept asking another question. OPRAH, SHUT YOUR MOUTH and let the woman speak!!! Then to add insult to injury, Oprah cut the interview short, it was only about 40 mins., and had a stupid karoke segment. How disrespectful to Patricks' memory. I wanted to hear more Lisa and less Oprah. Maybe some other talk show host will do Lisa and Patrick right.

By Oprahstinks

Oprah always cuts off people she interviews...to give HER opinion, to say what SHE feels they are thinking(like she is a therapist or expert on everything herself, LOL), to move on to HER next question. She has a completely overinflated opinion of herself. Pity, years ago she was great and I loved her show. Now..... P U! Lisa Neimi is a classy lady and my heart goes out to her during this difficult time.

By Lizbeth

After seeing Dirty Dancing, I always thought that if I got cancer my wish would be to dance with Patrick Swayze. Lisa should remember that she was able to dance with him every day and love the memory of his love. We all miss him and wish Patrick's life could have continued much longer.

Oprah wanted the show to be her's and not Lisa's. I'm not sure Oprah could feel the love and loss that Lisa has.

The only thing Oprah loves is Oprah, then maybe Gayle after that.

Saturday 10 April

By Bunny

I too lost my husband of 27 years to pancreatic cancer. He was 57. There is no way to be prepared for the loss, we were a team on eveything.
Patick Swayze's story was in the news as my husband was going through the exact same thing.
Like goes no but it is hard sometimes.
Courage and family are what gets you through.

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