In Deborah’s final hours, time seemed to soften into something quiet and unreal. Holding her hand beside the bed, I felt the impossible weight of loving a child through the end of her life—offering comfort not toward healing, but toward peace.

For five and a half years, Deborah fought stage 4 bowel cancer with remarkable courage. Through surgeries, treatments, and setbacks, she held on fiercely—for her children Hugo and Eloise, for her husband, and for everyone who drew strength from her honesty.

Even as hospice became part of the conversation, she remained calm and selfless. She asked that her children not be afraid, that laughter stay close, and that love—not fear—fill the room. In her final days, she spoke softly and focused on the future she was leaving behind.

When she passed, it was gentle and peaceful. Grief still comes in waves, but so does her presence. Deborah’s life was not measured by how long it lasted, but by how deeply it mattered—and that legacy continues to live on.