"Time moves like a river": Heartbreaking final words of Aussie writer taken too young
Natalie Fornasier has passed away at the age of 28 following a years-long battle with metastatic melanoma cancer.
The Sydney Morning Herald confirmed the news with an obituary on January 28, announcing that Natalie had died on January 14.
“Beloved Wife of Alexander,” the obituary read, “much loved Sister of Alex, loving daughter of Peter & Lorena. Adored daughter-in-law of Kirsten. She will be dearly missed by her grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, Natalie’s German family & devoted ‘Little Helpers’.”
Natalie received her first diagnosis when she was 20 years old after spotting a large mole on her toe, and was informed that she had Stage III metastatic melanoma.
In December, Natalie shared the news with her followers that her condition had progressed to Stage IV.
“At the end of July, I received the news that my cancer was now terminal and had months left to live,” she wrote.
“It’s not easy to admit that I’m dying. At 28 years old… everything about it feels wrong. The conversations I’ve had to have, the plans I’ve had to make, the places my thoughts have gone and are still going - none of it is natural. It’s painful,” she went on, “for four months I’ve grappled with sharing this news.
“But I'm here now, and that's because I want to take back control over my own agency. I am the one telling my story, as I always have. There are so many things in my life I can’t control but this I can.”
Natalie wrote of her husband, Alexander, and the love the two shared, telling her audience, “my one goal in life was to love. I’ve experienced a love that is all consuming - something so deeply precious and powerful and soul changing that I know that even though I’m leaving this earth, that energy and love will never die. Alexander and I have grieved together, and he has shared so many ways of how he will keep me in his life, which brings me peace as I face the unknown. But know this, no matter where I am, I’ll still be here – in some way.”
The couple were married in a “secret” ceremony on November 26, as Natalie revealed in a new post two days later.
On December 21, four days before Christmas, Natalie shared her final update with supporters. She passed away less than one month after.
“Today marks four weeks in palliative care. It’s absurd it’s been that long - time is so fluid, it feels like none has gone by but the calendar says otherwise,” she said, going on to write of how she missed her home and her experience with palliative care.
“It’s one minute at a time for me right now - and I’m so thankful that, that is still a possibility. If my time here has taught me anything - it’s that time moves like a river. You’re unable to see the beginning or the end but you can feel it - so you better make the most of it. Even if that means napping next to your loved one for hours so long as you’re together.”
Images: Instagram