I've never mentioned my newest sister-in-law before now, but I just had to share this with you.
While we were living in Melbourne, my eldest brother Jason had a housewarming party and a friend of a friend (Jess) gate-crashed. Their eyes met across a crowded room, and six weeks later they were engaged.
It wasn't your typical whirlwind romance, though.
Jess had been battling an extremely rare form of Leukaemia for the past four years and was fighting a hell of a fight but losing nonetheless. A November wedding was planned, but her oncologist suggested bringing it forward to September so that she was well enough to really enjoy her big day. It was the most beautiful wedding I've ever been to, and the most fun as well. We danced our butts off and had the time of our lives.
In January, Jessie contracted pneumonia and never really got over it. The fluid on her lungs didn't clear and things have been rapidly going downhill ever since. Determined to stay out of hospital, home-based care was arranged and she learned how to use a syringe pump to administer medication. Knowing that she had a few loose ends to tie up, Jess and Jason travelled to North Qld last weekend to see Jess's family.
They were supposed to be back a week ago, but things went pear-shaped and Jess had to be admitted to hospital (which she wasn't especially happy about). Meanwhile, we were in Brisbane and absolutely frantic. All of us wanted to go north to see her, but knew that it was logistically impossible to do so over Easter. Mum and Wray caught a plane straight after Genevieve's birthday party and managed to have a short time with her before having to fly back again yesterday.
By this stage, Jess only had one functioning lung and was on the maximum non-lethal dosage of morphine. She was mostly incoherent or unconscious, but Mum managed to have a few minutes of lucid conversation with her before she slipped back into la-la land again.
Last night, Jessie came to me in a dream. We were hanging out in my brother's old bedroom, laughing and goofing off after having lunch together. She hopped up and sighed. "Well," she said, "it's time for me to head off."
"Good luck," I replied. "Take care of yourself and have fun up in Heaven. God will take good care of you."
We gave each other one last bear-hug and she walked out the front door of Mum and Wray's house. The overwhelming feeling of warmth, love and peace that I felt at that moment is too big to describe.
When I woke up this morning, I didn't need a phone call to know that she was gone. It happened around midnight.
Bye, Jess. I love you dearly and will miss you heaps. Be sure to have some scones and raspberry jam ready when it's time for us to meet again.
