Joey Feek–one half of the country/bluegrass duo Joey + Rory–knows her days on earth are drawing to a close. Stricken with cervical cancer more than a year ago, Joey Feek was recently told her cancer treatments weren’t working, and that there was nothing more doctors could do for her.
Despite that news, Joey and husband Rory Feek are clinging to their strong faith. Joey Feek knows where she is going, and she doesn’t fear anything at all.
Country singer Joey Feek continues to fight cancer with family by her side https://t.co/cBRphJx2Eo
— TIME.com (@TIME) November 13, 2015
“I pray that one morning I just don’t wake up,” she said in an emotional interview with Cindy Watts of The Tennessean. “But I don’t fear anything because I’m so close to God and we’ve talked about it so many times. I know he’s close. And I know he loves me. I’m really at peace. I still believe there’s healing in prayer.”
Joey Feek's determination to spend time out of bed with her daughter is inspiring https://t.co/y8D77BjhnJ pic.twitter.com/TaWSsi2GrF
— People magazine (@people) November 13, 2015
After entering hospice care last week, Joey Feek has drawn even closer to her family members and dear friends–those she knows will miss her most. She spends most every waking hour watching her 20-month-old daughter, Indiana, laugh and play.
Some people, when given the life expectancy Joey Feek was just handed, become angry with God. Not so Joey, however, nor Rory either.
Joey Feek on her last days with terminal cancer: I don't fear anything https://t.co/0b1JLpl5U8 pic.twitter.com/K5hjXaz2iS
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) November 15, 2015
“I wasn’t mad at him, I wasn’t upset. I was just greatly disappointed,” Joey said of her heartbreaking prognosis. “I really thought we had it. I thought, ‘I’m going to be that exception. I’m going to be that statistic that stands out and says, ‘She fought it.'”
“We did the most extreme surgery we can do in the gynecologic world … but for whatever reason, it wasn’t enough, and God had different plans. I was disappointed. I was exhausted,” she added.
Joey Feek has even given Rory instructions on what to do when she passes away.
“A rough-cut wooden box with a cross on it was placed beneath the bay of the bus and brought up here because that’s what Joey wants,” Rory explained. “‘Thomas to make my box … simple, from wood at [our farm in Pottsville, Tennessee],’ she said. ‘And find a good spot in the family cemetery in the field behind our house, where we put your mama’s ashes last year … with room enough beside my headstone for you to join me someday … in God’s time.'”
Joey Feek is still finding strength to play with her baby girl after entering hospice, husband Rory wrote. Details: https://t.co/3eUouQilSc
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) November 13, 2015
Rory Feek will be heartbroken when he loses his beloved Joey. It won’t be easy raising little Indiana alone. It’s hard enough keeping a loved one’s memory alive for a child who may not remember the deceased. Indiana Feek has Down syndrome, which will make her understanding of losing her mom even harder.
Surely those who have surrounded Joey Feek in her last days will surround Rory and Indiana when Joey passes. They’ll work together to help him raise his daughter, and bring her up in the faith her mom held so precious.