Lisa Niemi on Patrick Swayze: ‘I Felt Like He Hasn’t Left’
Oct 30, 2009 Entertainment
Lisa Niemi was candid with Oprah about her husband Patrick Swayze’s recent death, and their life together on Friday’s live episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
Lisa told Oprah that Patrick was given three months or less to live when he was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years ago, but managed to hang on for 22 months. Lisa explained that she only allowed herself to cry one time in front of Patrick, when he was first diagnosed: "When we first had the diagnosis, I cried in front of him. I said, this is the one time I’m going to do this. … When he looked at me and looked in my eyes, I wanted him to know he was going to be OK, no matter what. … Both of us had to deal with this illness but he’s the one that was going to pay the ultimate price."
When it came to life after death, Lisa said of Patrick, "He also had this very realistic side, where he said I can’t be 100 percent sure, but I’m gonna find out."