Lisa Niemi Swayze is sharing a glimpse into life after loss, reflecting on how grief has shaped her path since the death of her husband, Patrick Swayze. In a new interview with US Weekly, Swayze is baring her heart out.
After Patrick died in 2009 at age 57 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, Lisa said she was still processing that loss when she was invited to speak at an event for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Though hesitant to step into the spotlight, she felt a sense of purpose in continuing his fight.
“It was really tough on me at that time, but I have to say, it gave me a way to keep his fight going, because he fought like hell to be here, and just because he was gone didn’t mean the fight was over,” she told Us Weekly.
Keeping His Fight Alive Through Advocacy
What began as a way to stay connected to Patrick soon grew into a larger mission.
Lisa has continued to advocate for pancreatic cancer awareness, pushing for more research and support for patients and families.
“I know how important it is to everybody else out there who are facing this deadly cancer, and progress has to be made, and we have to keep on pushing forward on that,” she told US Weekly.
She has also become more aware of the toll caregiving can take, reflecting on how much of herself she set aside during Patrick’s illness.
Finding Connection in Everyday Moments
GettyEven years later, Lisa said she still feels Patrick’s presence in her daily life.
“One of the things about losing someone is every day, almost, I’m on this farm with these beautiful horses, and I go, ‘Oh gosh, I wish I could see this right now. I wish I could see the sunset. If only he were here. I could share this with him.’”
“But I talk to him, I feel him. I hear his voice in my head. He gives me advice, and I am absolutely certain that he is there whenever I need him. And I still have pictures all around of Patrick.”
Opening Her Heart to Love Again
GettyLisa also spoke about finding love again with her husband, Albert DePrisco, years after Patrick’s passing.
“The loving part took me totally by surprise,” she said. “Patrick and I were married for 34 years, and I pretty much spent my entire adult life with him. To be without that meaningful relationship was very hard and extremely lonely.”
She recalled their first dinner together, which lasted hours.
“We had a 7 p.m. dinner in Santa Monica. And at one point, I said, ‘I think probably we should go ahead and pay the check’ because it was 11 p.m.! That’s a good sign. We were just talking the whole time.”
Lisa said opening herself up again required courage but led to a renewed sense of connection.
“It was absolutely frightening because I hadn’t been in a situation like that since I was like 17 years old! I felt like a 17-year-old. It’s like, ‘What do I do? What do I wear?’ It took courage.”
For Lisa, the journey has been about honoring Patrick’s memory while continuing to move forward.
