22-Year-Old Dad Passes On Day After Marrying Woman Of His Life In Heartwrenching Ceremony

Sep 19, 2020 by apost team

Finding the person you want to spend the rest of your life with can often seem impossible, with many people never finding that special someone. Thankfully, a 22-year-old rugby player from New Zealand, Navar Herbert, who was terminally ill, got the chance to marry the love of his life, Maia Falwasser, right before he succumbed to his disease in 2019.

As of this summer, Maia is raising her and Navar's son, Kyrie, in New Zealand.

At 22 years old, Navar Herbert led a life that would be the envy of even the most successful person. Playing rugby professionally with the Nerang Bulls, Navar was in love with the woman of his dreams, Maia. Together, Navar and Maia had a baby son, Kyrie, and were looking forward to the rest of their lives together.

All of Navar and Maia’s amazing plans were shattered in 2019 when Navar was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer known as a sarcoma, reports the NZ Herald. Despite the grim diagnosis, Navar and Maia were determined to get married. Doctors determined that Navar’s cancer had spread and there was nothing more they could do to help him. With just hours left to live, Navar married Maia in a beautiful but heart-rending ceremony.

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Too weak to even stand, Navar was helped into his tuxedo by his friends and groomsmen, who then brought him to the ceremony in a wheelchair. Maia then came down the aisle holding her mother’s hand, tears streaming down her face as she joined Navar under a canopy. Taking his soon-to-be wife’s hand into his own, Navar told Maia that he loved her.

Bending down, Maia took Navar into her arms and kissed him. In a recording of the event, those in attendance couldn’t help but weep at the touching moment. Despite the tragedy, there were still plenty of smiles at the wedding, many of them coming from Kyrie’s beaming face as he stood in his little white tuxedo. Friends of Navar and Maia also performed a haka, a traditional Maori dance, in honor of the occasion as the bride wiped away tears.

A little over 30 hours later, Navar succumbed to his terrible illness. Navar was laid to rest on July 2, 2019, which was also his son’s first birthday, reports the Daily Mail.

In a Facebook message, Maia thanked everyone for their support but also pleaded for help in returning Navar’s body to his native New Zealand. Setting up a GoFundMe page, Maia and Navar’s story attracted the attention of millions as complete strangers have already donated over $100,000.

"Today my heart is heavy and sad, 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, " she wrote on the GoFundMe page.

According to a Daily Mail article from this summer, Maia is currently living with her son, Kyrie, in New Zealand, after moving away from Queensland, Australia in order to be closer to her family. Unfortunately, that has meant that Navar's Gold Coast-located parents, Vanessa and Cameron, have had to watch Kyrie grow up from afar.

"He's left a big mark on many hearts," Vanessa told the outlet earlier this year.

Our condolences to the Herbert family. We are happy they at least got to have a ceremony to celebrate their love for each other. Make sure you pass this story along to your friends and family, and let us know what you think about this heartbreaking tragedy.