A Sad TimeOn Christmas morning when we got to Jim’s Mom’s house for Christmas breakfast we received the terrible news that Jim’s younger brother Stephen had passed away in his sleep the night before. It was a huge shock to all of us as he was a healthy 28 year old. He and his wife Katie had been living at her parent’s house with their 18 month old daughter Samantha. This has been such a huge loss for our family and it has been a difficult few weeks. Stephen was a great person, a very sensitive and caring person. He was a great brother and friend to Jim and the loss has been especially hard on him. After the autopsy came back they found that Stephen had a cyst/mass on his brain that had swelled and they think it blocked the nerve that controls breathing. Stephen had found out he had this cyst a couple of years ago when he started having really bad head aches and had a CAT scan done. He was told that the cyst was not cancerous but it was inoperable and it wouldn’t grow or affect him. They now think that it did increase in size.
We had a beautiful funeral service for Stephen on Dec. 30. Katie asked that Jim and her Dad speak. Jim gave a beautiful and loving tribute to his brother. I know that Stephen was happy. I was in awe as I listened to the words my husband spoke. He bore such a wonderful testimony of our Savior and gave us a perfect glimpse into the person Stephen is. Jim is a wonderful man and I am so thankful to be his wife. It is so hard to see someone you love suffer. I know that the road ahead is a long one but I am so thankful to be by his side.
We have received an out pouring of support from family, friends, and ward members. We are so thankful for the love and prayers we have felt. We know that through our Savior Jesus Christ we will be together again with Stephen.
Jim and his siblings Ellen and Michael
A beautiful view of Timpanogos....just what Steve would have wanted
Our two sweet nieces Mackenzie and Samantha
