Patrick Swayze, an outstanding actor and dancer, was famous for his brilliant performance in numerous movies, including “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost.” He had a lot of fans who were so in love with him that sometimes he had to hire bodyguards just to walk to the grocery store. But his heart always belonged only to one woman – his wife, Lisa Niemi.
Their love story is even more beautiful than any of Swayze’s movies.
Patrick and Lisa met when he was 18 and she was only 14. Lisa was the best student of Patrick’s mom, who was a dance teacher. Swayze fell for Lisa immediately, however, his mother told him to stay away from the young girl:
You mess up this kid, I’ll kill you.
But he understood right away that it was impossible for him to forget her. Later, the actor told that Lisa was different from the other girls and he liked that:
Lisa was different from the girls I was used to. If I started putting on a pose or doing my Casanova routine, Lisa would turn away and not say anything. We had a lot of dates in silence. But as soon as I opened up about what I wanted from life, she would answer me. She was the smartest woman I ever met and I found that incredibly attractive.
They married in 1975 and became inseparable, having the same hobbies and interests. Both of them were great dancers, licensed pilots, and had a huge love for animals. They had the cattle, dogs, peacocks, and horses on their ranch in New Mexico.
Patrick became extremely successful, but he knew that his real treasure was his beloved wife, so he was faithful to her all the time. Even after she had two miscarriages in 1990 and 2005, they stayed together and supported each other. Though they never had children, this amazing couple stayed strong and appreciated every moment.
Swayze performed and co-wrote a song on the soundtrack, the ballad “She’s Like the Wind,” inspired by his wife, Lisa Niemi.
Patrick and Lisa had been through numerous challenges together, including Swayze’s love to alcohol. But the most difficult one came along in 2008. Swayze was diagnosed with stage-4 pancreatic cancer. It was shocking and hard for both of them. But they kept fighting and moving forward. Together, they wrote the book telling about the life together and battling the horrible disease.
‘Fighting cancer has been the most challenging and eye-opening experience I’ve ever had, and it has sent me on an emotional journey deeper than anything I’ve felt before. Facing your own mortality is the quickest way possible to find out what you’re made of. It strips away all the bullshit and exposes every part of you — your strengths and weaknesses, your sense of self. Your soul’. — From Patrick Swayze’s memoirs.
As for Lisa, she also realized that this disease taught them a lot:
There’s a lot of wisdom in the idea of living one day at a time. And when you might not have someone for long, that’s what starts to happen.
Patrick Swayze was a real fighter, and Lisa stayed with him till the end, supporting him and holding his hand.
This couple became an amazing example of the strong love that goes through all the darkest times and remains true.
Though Swayze died of cancer, battling the disease for 20 more months after his diagnosis, he is still one of the best actors that will live forever through his work.
