despite loss, hope takes flight
When Louis Mallia married the love of his life he gave up a hobby that earlier had captured his fancy, racing homing pigeons.
For the next 28 years, Louis and Betty Mallia were inseparable and Louis never regretted abandoning his hobby of racing pigeons.
“We had a terrific life together,” Louis said. But, then tragedy struck. In October 2004, Betty was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer. Bettty had the best care, eventually being transferred to Duke University for extensive treatment.
“By the end of July 2005, doctors at Duke told us to go home, everything looked good and to be patient ... that it would take her about a year to recuperate and regain her strength” Louis said.
We were only home a week and Betty became very sick. She was admitted to Haywood Regional Medical Center and then transported to Duke. After several test, we were told there was nothing else they could do,” Louis said.
Betty was transferred again to Haywood Regional and she passed away on Aug. 28 at the age of 59. The shock was almost too much for Louis.
“I guess I’m selfish. I wanted my time with Betty to last 30 or 40 more years,” he said.
Louis found comfort in the hobby he had shelved for so many years. He bought and received as gifts from friends a total of 38 baby pigeons and began training them.
Having something to focus his attention on besides the pain of Betty’s death helped somewhat, he said.
Each day he would call the pigeons from the coop to a landing board for food. After a few weeks, he allowed the birds to fly.
“At first they would go up, circle and eventually begin ranging for 15 to 30 minutes,” Louis said.
Gradually, his birds extended their range to 10 miles, then 15 and 20 miles, and were finally ready for racing up to 320 miles for young birds and 500 miles for older birds.
Louis also found a support group and expressed an interest in doing something special to honor his wife.
Despite his love for his birds, Louis decided to sell four on a Web auction site and donate the proceeds to the American Cancer Society. Others donated birds for the auction. Louis decided to make this an annual event.
Louis and Betty Mallia moved to Haywood County seven years ago from Dearborn, Mich., where Louis had worked for Ford Motor Company.
“We looked around and this was the nicest place in the world to retire to,” Louis said. Unfortunately, the loneliness created by Betty’s death has prompted Louis to sell the couple’s retirement home and move to a townhouse.
“The nights are too lonely. I’m always expecting her to come walking down the hallway,” he said.
