Marilyn Wray Memorial
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Category Archives: Marilyn
Diagnosis +3, Departure
Thursday morning, May 14th.
Marilyn’s breathing became more and more labored through the day with increasing congestion. Her color changed. Her muscles became slack. It was clear her spirit was ranging widely. Friends heard her speaking to them clearly while they were elsewhere – they believe she was callling them to her side.
Looking at her around 4pm (I think) something in my heart spoke out: “She will not last the night”
Her few living relatives were called, the extended family already en route were warned to be fleet.
Evening came and she began to breathe slower and slower. She had not eaten or drank since early Tuesday, she could not draw fluid from a straw or chew and swallow.
Our friends gathered in her room as the agonal breathing began at approximately 11pm. In minutes her breaths were coming further and further apart until finally they were tiny gasps minutes apart.
I kissed her and wished her godspeed, fine warrior woman that she was. She had put the Robertson clan pin on me at our wedding and I called out to those brave people to make clear her way, one of their own was returning. I called the departed scions of clan Wray to answer their motto of ‘just and true‘ and attend her also.
Her last breath came and the pause stretched and stretched. At last it became obvious she had gone.
I had no tears left, we had spent so many days and nights together in the hospital as she fought cancer, fearing her death then that all I could feel was relief for our shared suffering’s end.
She asked me not to grieve her but to go on and live my remaining years filled with joy that she was walking with Jesus now and that our shared salvation meant we would one day be rejoined.
Goodbye my wife, eleven years was barely time to realize what a godsend you were to me. Every day in the light with you was special.
Every moment I remember you is too.
In a month we’ll gather at our special places in the mountains to scatter your ashes so that your corporeal being will rejoin the earth that loves it and surely love will spring up again.
Since Love is the surest sign of the presence of the Divine and your gathered friends will be feeling their love for you burning brightly, I know you will also attend with our Savior by your side.
In that most perfect of cathedrals I will bid you final adieu, O Wife and begin the journey to my own gateway, knowing I will find you waiting there with our clans gathered to celebrate.
Fly high little bird, I will watch the skies until then.
I encourage you to also view these pages: (image click to enlarge)
Diagnosis +2
Marilyn declined very, very rapidly. Two days after the diagnosis (Wed) she was bedridden and had lost contact with the world.
The Hospice care staff was there round the clock and she felt -no- pain, of that I am sure.
Diagnosis +1
It’s tuesday the 12th, 3:37pm.
Marilyn is slowly but surely losing her memory.
She cannot recall things that happened ten minutes ago.
She has developed tremors and twitches – the onset of seizures.
She has no pain and is in good spirits.
She speaks joyfully of ‘going to God’
I’m exhausted and awaiting hospice and friends to help.
She lays in our bed, dozing, our cats sleeping nearby.
The clock ticks.
The Diagnosis
My beloved has been diagnosed with untreatable cancer. She has a very short time to live.
I’m going to share this with the world so that others in the same situation will know they are not alone and also to give her a chance to say some things to the universe that need saying.
It won’t be pretty and the heroine definitely dies at the end.
Come along with us, share your thoughts as we share this final journey.