David & DeeDee’s Love Story
The best love stories have layers.
Following the loss of his beloved wife, DeeDee, Dr. David Horton is on a mission to share her unpublished book with the world. Her fictional sports narrative Layer Upon Layer offers a glimpse into the remarkable person, teacher, mentor, coach, and writer that DeeDee Horton was and examines the inequalities women experience in today’s male-centric society.
Empathic from youth, DeeDee always expressed herself best through writing. While completing her first book, Layer Upon Layer, it was discovered that she had an inoperable brain tumor. Early into her treatment, DeeDee experienced rapid worsening of her disease and decided to forgo further treatment, instead choosing to enjoy the time she had left with her two loves: David and writing.
For DeeDee, life was an adventure colored by layers of experience. This outlook, which she imparted to David, is what he attributes to his own personal growth. DeeDee’s unique perspective helped solidify what would be her final goal in life: to bring to light the layers and narratives that usher in positive change for women.
In the wake of his profound loss, David has taken on this goal as his own. Championing her legacy by sharing her message was not a mission David had initially envisioned for himself—but life’s layers are funny like that.
Layer Upon Layer flips the romantic male savior trope on its head, highlighting the challenges women face today, many of which DeeDee experienced as a collegiate D1 athlete and coach. The heroine, Sam, gives readers a front-row seat to her journey as an athlete, inviting them to reflect on their own experiences and to consider how they are being affected by and contributing to the “layers” in our culture.
DeeDee modeled how to leave this world with grace. Throughout her end-of-life journey, DeeDee left David voice memos and two “Love Books” as a place for him to find strength and solace in her absence—gifts that were not shared until her passing on May 18th, 2022.
David and DeeDee spent 32 years of love, self-growth, and adventure supporting and solidifying their devoted companionship. Now, as David stands at the cusp of this new chapter, he understands that Layer Upon Layer is not just a book—it’s the embodiment of his and DeeDee’s legacy and a reflection of the layers that continue to hold them close.
“To infinity,” as the couple would toast to—two words that were more than just an exchange; they were a promise—a promise to keep building layers, transcending time, and sharing a love that knows no bounds, in sickness and in health.
Meet David
A lifelong passion for science and patient connection led Dr. David Horton to specialize in oncology. In pursuit of a job post-residency, David relocated to the Pacific Northwest, where he met his wife, DeeDee. David’s approach to patient care was rooted in respect, empathy, and the art of deep listening, founding RadiantCare Oncology, where he was able to build a practice around his strengths as a doctor and oncologist. David and DeeDee spent 32 years of love, self-growth, and adventure supporting and solidifying their devoted companionship. Now retired, David has devoted his time to continuing to champion his late wife’s mission and message by publishing her book, Layer Upon Layer.
Meet DeeDee
DeeDee Horton had a passion for writing since youth. This extended into a career as a middle school teacher, where she particularly enjoyed teaching writing to her students. Prior to becoming a teacher, DeeDee was a gifted Division 1 athlete and coach, oscillating between basketball and volleyball, although basketball was always her favorite sport. DeeDee saw life as an adventure filled with layers of experience. This inspired a five-year journey of pulling from her own athletic experience to create her novel, Layer Upon Layer, shedding light on the narratives that bring positive change for women.
The story doesn’t end with Layer Upon Layer. It is just the beginning of a larger conversation.
Join David in honoring DeeDee’s legacy and building better, more inclusive layers in our society by uplifting voices in the community and continuing the conversation around gender inequality and female empowerment on his blog.