Joey and Rory Feek

The media has grown very attached to Joey and Rory Feek in the last few months. After she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, in October, Rory began "blogging" about it. We as reader's, have lived along vicariously through his posts. We have seen their hardships, her decision to stop treatment, her playing with their two year old daughter Indiana, their last dance, their last Christmas, their last Valentine's Day, the last birthday that Joey will see of her little daughter, and much more.

They have become more than celebrities becuase everyone in some way is able to see thei pain and identify with it. We are watching as Rory waits to lose his best friend and partner, Indiana waits to lose her mother, and Joey waits to lose her life.

If anything positive is to come out of this, it is seeing Joey's strength. She quit treatment to be with her family, she fought to live through the holiday's, and she has fought to see her daughter's second birthday. That kind of strength is an amazing example of love, compassion, and courage. It has made me look back at my own life and think that if she can fight for all of that, I can make it through high school or a bad headache or tough swim practice.

She and her husband have been the example of true love, and the ultimate fairytale. While I wish they could rewrite the ending, and get their happily ever after, that is not to be.

As it is revealed that she has entered her final days, it is sobering to see the pictures of her saying a final goodbye to her daughter with a hug and a kiss, and seeing her husband, the love of her life, sit in a chair next to her hospice bed. Joey has been the ultimate example of strength to her daughter, her family, and hundereds and thousands of others around the world.

Rest well Joey.

-Lauren Hansen

*Photo courtesy of Rory Feek and DailyMail*