His wife disclosed the tragic story of an athlete who died the day after their marriage.
“I lost my best friend, Husband and the Father to our Son. I feel absolutely showered in love by friends and family,” said Maia Falwasser, who married her love, Navar Herbert, the day before he died.
The 22-year-old athlete and the father of an 11-month-old boy had been diagnosed with a brain tumor a few months earlier. The disease was incurable, and his condition deteriorated rapidly.
The story of Navar and Maia
The couple decided to have the wedding as soon as possible because they knew they had very little time left.
After the death of her husband, Maia began raising funds to transport Navar’s body home to her hometown of Kotahitanga Marae, New Zealand.
“This is a hard time, however I do find my strength and refuge in everybody’s support,” the grieving widow said.
Maia also shared a touching video of the wedding, which took place in the midst of close friends and family in their New Zealand home. Navar’s friends helped him get dressed before the ceremony and then pushed him out into the garden in a wheelchair where he and his loves were to exchange marriage vows. When Maia arrived, Navar took his bride’s hand and told her how much he loved her.
After the ceremony, their friends greeted the young couple with the traditional fighting dance of the Maori called the haka.
Navar’s rugby team also assisted in fundraising to help moving their teammate’s body to its final resting place.