This is the update I have prayed that I would never have to send.
At around 8pm tonight (Friday, July 26), Will passed away.
I don't really know what to say. My heart feels like it has been ripped out and my world has stopped. Will is my love and will always be my love. I can't imagine life without him. The beauty and color of life seems to have gone with him.
William, thank you for loving me. Thank you for sharing the last 12 years of life with me. Thank you for marrying me and being my husband. You made my life better; you made me better. I don't know how I will continue breathing without you, but I'm thankful for the love we have that is more beautiful than either of us deserves.
Will lived an amazing 33 years and didn't waste a moment. Everything he did was done with great intentionality and love.
A couple of years ago, we went to a poetry reading. Will chose this poem to share with the group...
Late Fragment
by Raymond Carver
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.
Will is definitely beloved, by so many people. The love we have been shown has been overwhelming. Thank you all for loving us so well. Thank you for caring about our lives and sharing in them.
26 Comments
Charles Wogmon
July 27, 2013So sorry for the intense pain and grief you are experiencing. But do remember the great love you have given to him, and the love he has given to you. That will remain. And remember the presence and comfort our Lord gives.
You are in our prayers.
Charles Wogmon
Nancy
July 27, 2013Angie we are praying for you through this tough time. I know Will is with the Lord. His life has been a true testimony of Gods love.
candi
July 27, 2013Praying for you through these diffucult time
Andy Whitman
July 27, 2013I’m deeply saddened by your loss, Angie. There are no good words at a time like this, but please know that you are loved, that your grief is our grief (although I’m sure to a lesser degree), and that we share both your sorrow and your hope.
Debbie Rednour
July 27, 2013My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. I never met you or Will, only through your updates, posted by Erica Rose. What a beautiful love and life you have shared. I am so truly sorry to hear of Will’s passing, I was so hoping for his miracle. I hope his love for you and life will continue on through you. May God grant you some bit of serenity through this madness.
Joshua A Hubbard
July 27, 2013Will lives on through myself and all that ever encountered him! Will is blessed to have had such an amazing support group and to have known what true Love is, Angie your dedication and determination has provided such a profound example of what it is to truly give yourself to another. God bless
Catherine Culley
July 27, 2013I am so sorry for your loss. You and Will had a marriage which was a witness of Christ! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives. Praying for you and your families. May you feel God’s love and our love as well.
Meghan Kelly
July 27, 2013Angie i am so very sorry for your loss, i met your husband once at school an i thought he was a pretty cool guy, we even added each other on FB, reading about his fight an your loss saddens me but im sure he is in a better place where he dosent have to suffer anymore, one day you will reunite with him an find happiness once again,
Love you angie sending good thoughts your way!!!!
sue
July 27, 2013Angie, I am so very sorry you’ve lost Will for now. know that many will mourn as your mourn, and rejoice when you rejoice. our hearts are broken with yours.
sue Haley
maggy dillon’s friend
Lucy Bludorn
July 27, 2013Dear Angie,
Even though I briefly met you one day at the hotel in Mesa, I’ve been praying for you. My husband Andrew has been so touched by you and Will’s live and strength. He is thankful he got to meet you both and help you a little bit these past few weeks. Our hearts are full of sorrow for your loss. We will continue praying for you.
Lucy
Angela Williams
July 27, 2013I’m so sorry for the loss of your love, your best friend. I don’t know you all, but I know several of Will’s best friends such as DJ.
I’ve been praying for months, had my church pray, my youth group pray…I’ve been following your story. We showed your video at my youth group one night talking about Real Love in our sexuality series.
I have been continually inspired by your alls love, your alls faith and your alls courage. May you find the peace that passes understanding. May you find people who will listen and speak whenever each are necessary. May you find comfort in the fact that your alls lives have touched so many and your story will live on. Today I weep with you from Pasadena.
Thank you for inviting us all in.
Angela Williams
Debby
July 27, 2013Angie,
I am so very sorry for your loss. I’ve been praying for you and Will since I heard of his cancer, and I understand the pain of watching a loved one suffer from the disease. I am thankful that he is in the arms of our Savior now, and that you will be with him again someday. Your faith and relationship has touched me and so many others. I pray God will give you His peace and comfort during this time.
WALTER GRANT
July 27, 2013ANGIE,
MAY GODS BLESSINGS AND YOU WONDERFUL MEMORIES SUSTAIN YOU AS YOU ENTER A NE CHAPTER IN YOU LIFE.
“I AM LEAVING YOU WITH A GIFT, PEACE OF MIND AND HEART SO DON’T BE TROUBLED OR AFRAID.”
YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST
WALTER GRANT III
WALTER GRANT
July 27, 2013MAY GODS BLESSINGS AND YOUR WONDERFUL MEMORIES SUSTAIN YOU AS YOU ENTER A NEW CHAPTER IN YOU LIFE.
“I AM LEAVING YOU WITH A GIFT, PEACE OF MIND AND HEART SO DON’T BE TROUBLED OR AFRAID.”
YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST
WALTER GRANT III
P.S. SORRY FOR THE TYPOS.
Jamila
July 27, 2013Sorry for your loss…GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY
Nathan
July 27, 2013Grace and Peace to you in Christ Jesus…from the faith family here at Restoration Church in DC.
Paige Holmes
July 27, 2013Angie,
I have not met you but I know many of your friends and I have followed your blog. I am sorry that when I worked at Union, I never got to meet you and Will. I am much older than you but you two have proved to be my mentors when it comes to this journey. We all must go down this road and I feel better about it for having read your story.
I wish you much future happiness and peace. I know you will be well watched over from heaven. Please let your friends know how you are getting along.
Sincerely, Paige Holmes
amanda golden
July 27, 2013My prayers are with u all
Brenda & Derek Cruz
July 27, 2013praying for peace and comfort xo
Nancy LaRocco
July 27, 2013Loved you both from afar. Praying for you and your family Angie. Your love , faith, and devotion such a precious testimony and such a precious gift to all who knew Will.
Shane Critser
July 27, 2013His last breath on earth was his first breath with Jesus! Praying for you Angie
Ashley Cain
July 27, 2013So unbelievably sorry and yet so grateful for our Jesus. Praying for you! Much love and many blessings.
Barbara Hargis
July 27, 2013No words. Only prayers. You wrote a beautiful love story to the very end. Sing with the angels Will.
friendofafriendofwills
July 27, 2013so sorry for your loss. you are all in our prayers.
Cindy
July 27, 2013I don’t know you personally Angie, but I am heartbroken for your loss. God will give you the strength of the Holy Spirit to get you through. I wanted to share a poem about the process of dying that has brought me comfort. The beauty is that in Christ, we never truly die:)
I am standing on the seashore,
A ship sails and spreads her white sails to the morning breeze
And starts for the ocean.
She is an object of beauty and I stand watching her till at last she fades on the horizon, and someone at my side says “ she is gone”.
Gone where?
Gone from my sight that is all.
She is just as large in the masts, hull and spurs, as she was when I saw her,
and just as able to bear her load of living freight to its destination.
The diminished size, the total loss of sight is in me not in her, and just at the moment when someone at my side says “She is gone”
There are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up the glad shout.
“here she comes.”
And that is DYING.
BISHOP BRENT
Jill
July 27, 2013Angie,
I am from Paris and just wanted you to know I’m thinking and praying for you. Heaven has surely gained an awesome angel.