Her Blog

My brother leaves a beautiful family behind.

Sandra is one of the most incredible people I have known. She is strong and grounded in her faith. She has my greatest admiration. I know how she begged God to let her husband live longer. But her trust in God allowed her to let go, without letting go of her faith. Sandra, thank you for the example you have set for so many of us. And thank you, especially, for loving my brother with all of your heart. I love you.

Jeremy was by his father’s side, willing to do anything to help him be more comfortable. I don’t even know how many days Jeremy went without sleep. He even shaved his head after his father lost his hair, in sympathy. He gave the most beautiful, heart-wrenching tribute to his father at the funeral. Jeremy, I love you.

Daniel came home from his mission in Mexico to say his goodbye to his father. It would have been easy for him to stay home. But he had promised his father he would return and finish his 2-year mission. And he kept his promise by returning to Mexico the morning after the funeral. That took great courage, for both him, and his mother to say that goodbye one more time. Daniel, I love you.

Her father always introduced her as his favorite daughter. Vanessa’s beauty is easy to see. But seeing her in person one can immediately sense that her beauty goes deep. She is quietly strong. She is pure and sweet. Vanessa, I love you.

Ryan is the most unusual young man I have ever known. He brings smiles to everyone around him. He says the most incredible things. And he understands things you wouldn’t expect a ten-year-old to understand. At his father’s funeral, he stood at the pulpit and spoke to a very large crowd. He made people laugh and cry as he talked of his father, and of his faith. And I realized while listening to him that my brother’s sense of humor lives on. Ryan, I love you.

My brother’s wife and four children spoke at his funeral. They gave beautiful tributes, and they spoke the doctrines of their faith. Because of Daniel’s return to Mexico early the next morning, it was the last day the five of them would be together for nearly two years. So we took photos before the day was over. They were exhausted and emotionally drained. Their eyes are full of emotion, and also beauty. I love this family.

Jim S. Manwill  —  June 26, 1960 - January 12, 2010

My brother, Jim, received a diagnosis of stomach cancer the beginning of December. Three weeks after his first chemotherapy treatment, test showed that the cancer had tripled in size. On January 12, my brother slipped peacefully away, surrounded by his loved ones in his home. His battle lasted only six weeks.

A mother never plans to see her child die. My heartbroken mother spent many hours sitting with him in his final few weeks. He told her that in her presence he didn’t feel the need for conversation. Holding her hand was all he needed.

All of his siblings were with him in his last few days.

Jim’s son, Daniel, is currently serving as a missionary in Mexico. He was able to come home for a few days to say goodbye to his father. Below is the touching moment when he greeted his father. Daniel spent the next day sitting beside his father, reading scriptures to him and pages from his personal journal. It was their last day together.

I made a trip to Utah, and in those last few days I took turns with my siblings sitting beside our brother’s bed. Following is an excerpt from a personal journal entry.

January 10, 2010

What I found in that hospital room is that Jim is still Jim. He cannot really carry on a conversation. It takes much more energy to do that than he now has. Every word he says wears him out. And he sleeps more and more of the time. But when he does speak, he is still Jim. And he still has his sense of humor. I believe that he feels bad for the sadness he is causing us, so he gives us reasons to laugh.

Yesterday, when I was standing beside his bed, he motioned for me to move the side table closer to the bed. I did, and then he reached over and pointed to the box of tissues.

Me: “You want a tissue?”

He then pointed to the drink of water.

Me: “You want a drink?”

Then his finger hovered over the juice container.

Me: “You want juice?”

I was eager to help him feel more comfortable in any way I could. Then he picked up the cup of water than had the sponge-on-a-stick floating in it. He brought it close to his mouth and began swabbing the wet sponge throughout his dry mouth.

Then he turned to me and said, in the most soft, weak voice, “I was just playing a little game with you.”

I laughed, full of surprise. He then said, “If you stick around long enough, you’ll catch on.”

Me: “That’s not fair, I am easy to fool.”

Jim: “You may be easy to fool, but you’re also easy to love.”

I hope you all had a very merry holiday. I’m sending my best wishes for the coming new year.