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Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Roy Prince and his wife, Ginger, have spent the last 14 years celebrating the start of a new year with a kiss. However, the couple’s New Year’s Eve tradition had

extra significance as they embraced at the stroke of midnight on Dec. 31, 2023. “Doctors have told us this New Year’s Eve will more than likely be the last one for us,” said Ginger, as she

sat beside her husband, in his hospital room, at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center.  In 2018, shortly after the couple was married, Roy was diagnosed with amyloidosis. The rare disease

causes the amyloid protein to build up in the body, which prevents organs from functioning properly. Roy Prince represents a microscopic percentage (12 out of every 1 million people) who are

fighting this incurable disease.  “I just said, ‘crap happens; let’s roll with it and see where it goes,’” said Roy as Ginger cracked a smile hearing his matter-of-fact response. “No matter

what’s happened, from the chemotherapy to dialysis, he’s never complained one time,” confessed Ginger. “They told us he had 18 months, and that was five years ago!” As part of the Greatest

Generation, the couple has been fighting the odds for as long as they can remember.  Ginger, who was caring for her mother in Arkansas, had been single for 43 years, and Roy, a widower,

survived two deployments to Vietnam as an engineering officer.  Neither of them expected to find love again, but that changed when Roy’s sister invited her friend Ginger to St. Petersburg

for New Year’s Eve.  “When I saw her, I thought ‘good Lord she’s short,’” offered Roy, who stands at a generous 5’6. “Truth be told, I wouldn’t be here today without her; she saved my life.”

Roy’s quick wit has helped keep things in perspective for Ginger who was in denial upon hearing of the diagnosis in 2018.  “We have to keep a sense of humor every day; that’s all you can

do,” added Ginger. “He is supportive, honest, and makes me laugh. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him.”  In the words of Muhammad Ali, the couple has made the choice to not count the

days, but instead, make each day count. They’ve toured Brazil, Argentina, Ireland, and a host of other countries over the course of the marriage. “Finding love this late in life is a true

adventure,” added Roy who admitted the couple still has plans to travel as much as possible in 2024.  Sadly, they both know Roy’s days are numbered; however, Ginger admitted that her time

with Roy at Bay Pines VA provided some clarity for her future.  “Everyone here, from enrollment to the doctors and nurses, and the Fisher House team who moved mountains to allow me to stay

there, has been so supportive and treated us like family” added Ginger. “I wondered what I was going to do when he crossed over, but after seeing the way people at Bay Pines VA treat

everyone, I’ve decided I’m going to be a volunteer.”