With a heavy heart

My Sweetheart Lauren, my wife of nearly 13 years and mother of our two wonderful children, had to leave us last week.  She was/is a remarkable human-being who will be remembered for her intense love for those in her life, her strong will, and her deep compassion for all living things. In the face of difficult odds, seemingly endless setbacks, and indignities she continued to move forward, determined to continue to be the wife and mother that she was all while still maintaining her sharp sense of humor. My heart is very heavy with her loss, and the void where she once was is larger than I can accurately express with words.

I do want to thank each and every one of you who walked alongside Lauren on this journey. Your prayers, love, messages, and encouragement over the past six years meant so much. On days when the sun felt a little clouded, your notes and reminders of hope brought Lauren so much joy and strength.

This strength, combined with Lauren’s resilience, gave us time. Time for milestones, birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. In these past six years, Lauren experienced and accomplished more than many could imagine, living each moment with purpose, strength, and love.

It is with immense gratitude that we choose to celebrate Lauren’s life and all that she was to so many. Cancer never defined her.  If anything, it revealed just how strong, determined, and courageous she truly was.  She researched tirelessly, looking for new findings, treatment options, functional medicine approaches, and more. She could often be found diving into blogs and medical journals, asking questions and seeking other paths forward, and building connections with people across the world who were walking similar roads.  Through this process, she found comfort in knowing she was never alone.

Lauren’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her, and we will continue to celebrate the beautiful life she lived, just as she would have wanted. May she rest in eternal peace, our strong fighter, devoted mother, loving wife, daughter, sister, cousin, and dear friend.

A celebration of life is being planned in the near future with details to follow.  One of Lauren’s final wishes was that in lieu of flowers, any support be for her children’s education.  To fulfill that wish, an educational fund has been started for them both. Should you wish to support their education you may do so via Venmo @Brandon-Doyle-88.