Wedding days are meant to be happy times and looking forward to the future. But one couple celebrated their special day just one day before the groom succumbed to cancer.
Navar Herbert was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor nine months earlier and his health deteriorated quickly. But the 22-year-old professional rugby player from New Zealand and his fiancée, Maia Falwassar, were determined to say their vows before Navar ran out of time.
Navar, who had trouble speaking near the end, can be heard telling Maia she’s beautiful as she walked down the aisle. The couple also repeated “I love yous” to each other after they kissed at the end of the ceremony.
The couple was married in an intimate garden ceremony in Australia where Navar played rugby for the Nerang Bulls. Many of his former teammates attended the event and performed the traditional Haka dance after the vows were recited.
Celebrating life, anticipating death
What should’ve been one of the best years of Navar and Maia’s life together was taken over by his illness. Just weeks before Navar was diagnosed, the couple became parents to their first child, a son.
While the couple seemingly didn’t let Navar’s illness take away the joy of their son’s arrival or their upcoming wedding, cancer took their future together as a family.
Maia shared the video as part of a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for the arrangements to bring Navar’s body back home to New Zealand for burial, per his wishes.
“Today my heart is heavy and sad,” Maia posted on the donation page. “I lost my best friend, Husband and the Father to our Son. I feel absolutely showered in LOVE by friends and family, this is a hard time, however i do find my strength and refuge in everybody’s support.
“Navar’s Journey has just begun, shortly we will be taking him back to Kotahitanga Marae, where he has asked to be laid to rest. He has impacted so many people near and far, and he will always be in our memories and have a special place in our hearts.”
Another bittersweet moment took place when Navar was laid to rest on July 2, which is also his son’s first birthday. Hopefully, the next year is better than the last for Maia and her son.