Couple creates artwork to preserve final hug (exclusively)

• Rosi Golan and Jeremy Brennan met in 2004 while working in a bar in New York City
• A few months later, Golan, a singer writer began to raised in Los Angeles, and Brennan, originally from Australia, dating. Since August 27, 2014 they got married
• Later, in January 2024, Brennan, 43, was diagnosed at that time with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer
• Right before he died, the couple created a vase to preserve their hug

Rosi Golan And Jeremy Brennan crossed roads by chance. It was 2004, and both showed up late to their first staff meeting in a Bar in New York City, just to find the door locked. Genuated, they began to beat, and that was the moment their connection began.

A few months later, Golan, a singer writer began to raised in Los Angeles, and Brennan, originally from Australia, dating. On August 27, 2014, they married and settled in La Brennan a job in technology and a few years later the couple educated a child.

But just as their lives seemed to fall into place, December 23, 2023, Brennan ended up at the emergency room after suffering several rear spasms. He waited for hours to be seen, but in the morning, CT scanning revealed growth on the liver and spine. He was immediately in hospital and stayed for six weeks.

On January 2, 2024, the Golan and Brennan, 43 at that time, received the devastating diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. It is usually diagnosed in older adults and is often already at an advanced stage when detected. Just one day after the diagnosis, Brennan began chemotherapy.

“He responded really well to Kemo,” Golan, 43, tells people exclusively. “Everything shrunk. All his scans looked really good. The doctors were optimistic and felt he could have years to live. But then it was strange.”

“I don’t know who exactly said it, but someone referred to it as a” turbo cancer, “she adds.” He had scans just eight weeks before, and everything looked so good. He had 40% shrinkage of all his tumors. Then, in just seven weeks, he was in liver errors. It was so crazy. He was hospitalized for dehydration and began to turn yellow. The oncologist called us and said, “We run out of things we can do.”

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Things moved away quickly. The Golan ran into action and knew that Brennan wanted to be home in Australia with his family and friends if the end was close. She consulted a hematologist about the safety of flying, which was risky, but booked tickets anyway.

Then she was enough for her friend Patrick JohnstonA potter she met in 2021 while taking lessons in Venice. The Golan had in love with its signature design, for which he embraces pots and turns them into art. When Johnston, who also has cancer, learned about Brennen’s disease, he invited the couple to participate in the process of making a vase together. But with Brennan constantly in and out of the hospital, they never made time.

“I just texted Patrick and asked,“ Is there any way we can still make this happen? “” She remembers Messages Johnston after learning that Brennan only had weeks left to live. “Although it felt like there was no time, I knew it would be something I could forever be grateful for.”

“Patrick answered immediately: ‘Absolutely, we make it work, regardless of time or place,’ ‘she adds.

The day Brennan was released from the hospital, the couple had a narrow window – less than five hours – between his discharge and their flights to Australia from salmon. The Golan took him home and he took a shower. Then they came down to spend some last moments with her family.

There, who was waiting in the living room, was Johnston, with the vase for Golan and Brennan to embrace. The Golan didn’t know at that time, but her mother filmed what would turn out to be some of the couple’s last kisses.

From there the couple went to the airport. They boarded their flight to Australia and sat in Business Class. The Golan kept a watchful eye on Brennan the whole trip. The flight value, a former nurse, constantly checked him and led ice packs and spews. Upon arrival, they went straight to the emergency room before going to a beach house that they had rented. Friends and family flew in from every corner of the world – Dubai, New York, Florida – to see Brennan one last time.

“It really held me during that time,” says Golan. “I honestly didn’t know how to survive. And I don’t think I understood what people’s love and energy could bring you up to that moment. I don’t think I could have been on my own without it.”

“I remember having a conversation with Jeremy, and he said,” I feel so bad – people fly in so far away, and I don’t have energy to really sit with them for a long time, “adds the Golan.” And I just watched him and said, “You have to let people show up for you.” “Show-up guy” in Australia-He showed up when you needed him the most. ”

On August 24, 2024, Brennan died at the age of 44. The months that followed were difficult for Golan when she navigated in life without her partner in almost ten years.

She kept her feelings private and could not talk to someone or express her grief. Over time, she realized that people didn’t know how to treat her, and friends began to drive away. She avoided everything related to Brennan, including picking up the vase.

“Patrick continued to send me and say:“ When you’re ready, your hug is here. Take time, “says Golan.” When you experience loss, there are some things you put up, because the moment you make them becomes even more real. ”

Then, in February, just shy for the six -month mark since Brennen’s death and their anniversary, which fell on Valentine’s Day, the Golan knew that she wanted to get flowers and put them in the vase. Before she went to the studio, she saw about the video her mother had sent her from the last hug again.

“It really struck me on my way to the studio. I fell a little when I saw the video because I realized how much more important it was than I realized right now,” she says. “When Patrick put down the vase, I shared it with him, and I cried. I felt bad because I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable, but he was so big with it.”

“It was overwhelming to see it physically,” she continues. “The last time I saw it lived Jeremy. This time I stood in front of it alone, put it in my car. I buckle it because I was afraid something would happen to it. It was heavy – heavy to take it home and put it down. Every day, it is heavy and looked around, when everything is so quiet. But it is also difficult. ”

Although the Golan does not normally film moments in her life, it decided something inside her to record the moment she picked up the vase. She just planned to send it to her mother, but then made a decision about the moment to publish it on Tiktok and Instagram, sewing with the original video that her mother had sent her by the couple and created it.

She woke up the next morning and planned to remove it, but when she saw the attention, it was made – including from celebrities like Olivia Munn and Katie CouricBoth have suffered from cancer – she decided to keep it up.

“This is so beautiful. Sending you love ❤,” wrote Couric.

“❤❤ Comment,” commented mouth.

“It’s such an intimate thing to share,” says Golan. “I have lost my husband to cancer. I have lost cousins ​​to cancer. I have known so many people who have lost parents, grandparents, siblings … It is just such a connecting force, and it is so isolating too.”

“It feels less lonely when other people reach out to you and say,” Actually, I’ve gone through the same thing, and that’s how I get through my days, “she adds.” And I’m really grateful for that part of it. ”

What struck the Golan most was to think about how she spent countless hours on her phone in hospital and Kemocentra during the past year. Together, she and Brennan would share videos or watch Tiktoks and pass the time. Since she also researched his cancer, she was often run videos like her by the algorithm.

“I realized that it felt so surreal that someone probably looked at my story from a hospital room or their own situation,” says Golan.

During the interview, Golan adds how her husband’s journey has become an integral part of who she is today. Instead of trying to hide her face, she embraces it now. She channels her grief to creativity and is currently working on a new song called “Right now. “When they have been released, all revenue from streaming will go to Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.

“I want people to do things like this when others are best – create art, create memories, spend time together and say the hard things while you are healthy and good,” she adds. “Jeremy was not a person who had any regret about his life at the end which is a massive gift. He always did things he wanted to do, worked on projects he believed in and never compromised who he was for anyone.”

“What I witnessed was someone who did not spend time thinking about what he could have done differently in the end, but someone who stayed at the moment he was currently,” she continues. “His only regret really left this life early and how it would affect me. I want people to know it and hope they will be inspired to live the same way.”

When it comes to the vase, Golan plans to go and buy fresh flowers to stay there every week. She adds how since Brennan was cremated, there is no cemetery where she can visit him, so the vase has become her mourning site.

“I always want what I can see, either in my living room or somewhere where it is shown,” she says.