UPDATE:

It is finished, the battle is over…

My sister-in-law, Deanna, lost her almost 2.5 year battle with stage-four cancer Saturday at 5:37 p.m. She may have lost the battle, but she won the war, gaining eternal life free of pain and suffering.

Deanna was funny, smart, and in my mind, she was always summer, suntan lotion, sunshine, daffodils, sunsets and beautiful beaches. She will always remind me of family and the importance of remaining loyal and present to family no matter the personal cost or sacrifice.

Life dealt her a few crappy hands; I’m proud of how she ended up playing them. I’m glad she finally found her prince. My brother loved her so well, and she him. He has been a devoted caretaker, and I’m so proud of him. He said to me, “I wish I could have taken care of her longer.” I wish he could have, too. Fifty-four is too young to say goodbye to the love of your life.

We are told weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Deanna’s proverbial morning has finally come around. She climbed the great big mountain. I’m so happy for her. She’s earned her endless summer. But it’s still winter for the rest of us. It’s already been a long night, and right now, it feels like it may take morning a little while to break through down here.

I will miss you, Deanna. As I promised you, your kids will always know their Aunt Staci is here for them, and there won’t be a single day when I won’t be available to them or my brother if they need me in any way.

I would ask that the rest of you please lift my brother, the kids, grandkids, our parents, our extended family and all who loved Deanna best up in thought and prayer. We could all use your warm thoughts and the strength and peace that comes from your prayers.

Service information should be available sometime Tuesday. We are all taking a couple days to just catch our breath, cry, and feel all the feelings that continue to wash over us in waves.

Thank you to all of you who have already reached out. Don’t be hurt if you don’t hear back from us immediately. It’s such a process, and there is a lot to be done.

Thank you in advance for your love and concern. Thank you so much to those who have donated to this fund. Unfortunately, there are still many expenses left to address. John took a leave of absence from work to care for Deanna himself, a choice he will never regret. However, it has made times tight, and in addition to mounting general expenses, there are now funeral expenses to cover, as well. If you are in a position to assist, that would be greatly appreciated. If not, please continue to help by keeping the whole family in your prayers.

Deanna, God be with you ‘til we meet again…

ORIGINAL POST: For more than a year, our beloved Deanna — wife to my brother John, grandmother, mother, sister, aunt, and friend — has fought an incredibly courageous battle against stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer.

From the moment of her diagnosis, Deanna has faced every challenge with grace, determination, and unwavering faith. She’s endured countless treatments, each one taking a tremendous toll on her body but never breaking her spirit. She has been brave beyond words — steadfast in her will to fight, and full of love for her family and those of us blessed to be in her life.

Recently, we received the heartbreaking news that the cancer has continued to spread despite every effort. After many long and difficult conversations, Deanna and John have made the unimaginable but deeply thoughtful decision to stop treatment and focus on comfort and time together. Deanna has now entered hospice care, choosing quality of life over quantity of days.

As she faces this next chapter, our family’s greatest wish is to give Deanna the peace and comfort she deserves — time surrounded by her husband, her children, and all who love her most.

The journey has been not only emotionally devastating but also financially exhausting. The treatments have been costly, as has the travel involved for her medical care. Deanna has been unable to work, and John has missed significant time from work out of a deep desire to be present with her — to attend appointments, provide care, and spend as much precious time together as possible. They are only in their 50s — far too young to be facing the heartbreak of parting with the love of their lives.

To make matters even harder, their furnace recently quit and will cost over $5,000 to replace. On top of that, their sewer has backed up — two major issues that they simply do not have the finances, emotional energy, or time to handle right now. These challenges have come at the worst possible moment.

They need our help. I am respectfully asking anyone who can to contribute any amount to help ease their family’s burden, so they can focus solely on spending these remaining days together — free from the weight of financial worry.

Your donations will go toward household support, household repairs and expenses, and helping John and the family spend these precious moments together without the added stress of mounting costs.

Deanna has spent her life giving to others — always putting her family and friends first. Now it’s our turn to give back to her, to lift her up with love, support, and peace.

If you are able to donate, please know that every contribution, no matter the amount, will help this beautiful family in their time of need. If you are unable to give, please share this page and keep Deanna, John, and their family in your prayers.

Thank you for your love, compassion, and generosity as we help Deanna find comfort as she makes her way home to Jesus.

With love and gratitude,

Staci Wilson Wright and the family of Deanna and John Wilson