Posted on 03/19/2016 1:35:29 PM PDT by kathsua
On March 4, the world of pop culture mourned the passing of Joey Feek. She was a country duet singer with her husband Rory, a TV and radio host, a mother of a child with Down syndrome, and, a woman who just gave the world an unforgettable lesson about the love of family, and death with true dignity.
Married in 2006, Rory and Joey achieved fame on the Country Music Television singing competition “Can You Duet?” in 2008. Their first album, topped the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in March.
The Feeks earned three nominations, including new artist of the year, during the 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards and won the Top New Vocal Duo of the Year award. The couple hosted a weekly television show on RFD-TV or on their radio show that aired on WSM-AM before the Grand Ole Opry, or through their farmhouse concerts.”
Rory, a talented writer, writes a blog This Life I Live, where he chronicled the tragic story of Joey’s diagnosis two years ago with cervical cancer, the decline of her health as the cancer spread, and her subsequent death on March 4. Joey was 40 years old.
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The love within the Feek family as Joey bravely faced her death has attracted worldwide admiration. But that love did not begin with a diagnosis of cancer. It was there from the start, and showed most powerfully at their surprise when their daughter Indiana was born with Down syndrome.
Rory wrote, “It has been confirmed that Indiana has Down syndrome. Although that news came at first as a surprise to us, Joey and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. We trusted that God would give us the baby He wanted us to have… and He has. Out of all the parents in the world, He has chosen us to care for and raise this special gift. The baby is healthy and doing wonderful and Joey and I are loving each and every minute that we have with her. We can’t wait to see where this new chapter in our lives leads us and what wonderful story unfolds in the coming years.”
For Every Mom blogger Jenny Repson was inspired by the Feeks example after Indiana’s birth, “Their advocating for special needs and showing Indiana’s beauty and the joy she brought to their lives during this cancer battle truly brought some much-needed awareness and positivity in the fight to include people with special needs and highlight their importance to the body of Christ.”
Joey‘s greatest regret at her diagnosis was that she would not be able to raise the couple’s daughter. At one point, she wept and said, “I want to raise our baby!”
Joey took every opportunity to be a mama to Indiana while she could, making videos and recordings so that Indiana would remember her, including the recently released album entitled; “Hymns That Are Important to Us.”
The blog and its videos were shared widely on the Internet and she inspired thousands. Yet, in the end, Joey’s bravest witness is in her peaceful death at home. Her husband Rory wrote on their blog, “My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven.”
March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day in which the gifts of those with Down syndrome are celebrated. A bill has been sent to Indiana Governor Mike Pence that would make his state the second to ban abortions for Down syndrome.
LifeNews Note: Leticia Velasquez is the co-founder of KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome).
This constant trumpeting of Joey Feek is going to do damage to the common love for special babys part of the psyche
Please ... Let Joey rest
Joey didn’t want to be forgotten. She brought so much joy to so many lives, including mine. She was very public about her love for God, family and life. Her love for her beautiful daughter in no way diminishes or obscures the love every Mom has for their children. If anything, it shines a light on that love.
Joey demonstrated an appreciation for the gift of life, which unfortunately is not shared by everyone. In the past few days, I was told by a couple FReepers that anyone who chooses to die on God’s terms, as Joey did, instead of committing suicide or contracting someone to murder them, has no dignity. So obviously not everyone has gotten the message she devoted so much of her life and death to conveying.
Her message didn’t die with her, and she will not soon be forgotten. I don’t think she wanted everyone to shut up about her and wipe away her memory. And I don’t believe that’s what her family wants. And I strongly believe that would not be beneficial to people with Downs, or other circumstances which place them in the crosshairs of people who have not heard and accepted the prolife message.
I hope people will continue spreading the uplifting story of Joey. She continues to be an inspiration.
I sit here in our house, not very far at all from the
Feek’s family farmhouse. We are back on the river just down
the road from them. - I’m depressed lately because a lot of
people in our past & present have recently died. - JOEY FEEK
is a brave soul. She did not wish to abort her baby for any
reason. JOEY & RORY FEEK thankfully accepted the baby that
the Lord gave them & enjoyed every minute they had with
her. - My husband & I had a Downs baby 46 yrs. ago. He
had a lot of physical challenges, blockages, “deformities”,
etc., & died at 6 wks. after major surgery to remove a
digestive blockage. - I fully believe that the time will
come very soon when the last shall be first & the first
shall be last. A lot of these politicians & big shots may
well find themselves relegated to a seat below these
babies they’re aborting in the Kingdom of God. To that,
I say MARANATHA!
I have a friend who’s sister has Downs Syndrome. She lived with her parents all of her life, until they passed away, and is now living with my friend and his wife. His sister, now in her 70s, is a happy, friendly, cheerful, person, a joy to be around. Her presence adds to gatherings, and no one is embarrassed to be with her. It is easy to see how people can easily bond with Downs Syndrome children.
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