Mary Katharine Ham’s Husband Passes Away
[guest post by Dana]
I was saddened to read that Mary Katharine Ham’s husband, Jake Brewer, passed away yesterday as a result of a cycling accident during the Ride to Conquer Cancer fundraiser. Brewer was only 34 years old. Along with Ham, he leaves behind a daughter and another little one on the way.
In a tender and eloquent statement posted on her Instagram page, Ham expressed her deep love for her husband:
We lost our Jake yesterday, and I lost part of my heart and the father of my sweet babies. I don’t have to tell most of you how wonderful he was. It was self-evident. His life was his testimony, and it was powerful and tender and fierce, with an ever-present twinkle in the eye. I will miss him forever, even more than I can know right now. No arms can be her father’s, but my daughter is surrounded by her very favorite people and all the hugs she could imagine. This will change us, but with prayer and love and the strength that is their companion, we can hope our heartache is not in vain– that it will change us and the world in beautiful ways, just as he did. If that sounds too optimistic at this time, it’s because it is. But there was no thought too optimistic for Jake, so take it and run with it. I will strive and pray not to feel I was cheated of many years with him, but cherish the gift of the years I had. In a life where nothing is guaranteed, Jake made the absolute, ever-lovin’ most of his time with all of us. This is a family picture we took a couple weeks ago. It was taken because Jake, as always, was ready with a camera and his immense talent. All four members of our little, growing family are in it. I can never be without him because these babies are half him. They are made of some of the strongest, kindest stuff God had to offer this world. Please pray that he can see us and we’ll all make him proud. God, I love him. Psalm 34:18, Philippians 1:3
Also, according to Hot Air, a GoFundMe project has been set up to establish a memorial education fund for Ham’s two children.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Ham and her young family as well as Brewer’s family. May God keep all those who are hurting from this loss enveloped in His loving care as He walks them through this valley of deep sorrow.
–Dana
UPDATE BY PATTERICO: What a horrible thing. Thanks to Dana for posting this.
UPDATED BY DANA: I am posting the Bible verses that Ham cites in her Instagram post. It is a hard and dark journey to find the way back from brokenhearted despair to renewed joy. With a tiny amount of faith and the passage of time, the light at the end of the black tunnel can be reached and joy can once again be known. God gives us His words to strengthen, encourage, guide and to be the salve to our wounds while we hold onto the lifeline that is Him:
Psalm 34:18 – The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Philippians 1:3 – I thank my God in all my remembrance of you…
Such an awful loss for such a precious family, and all so very young.
Dana (86e864) — 9/20/2015 @ 3:51 pmRead about this earlier today. Thoughts and prayers are with her and the family. My sister was widowed with 3 small children at the age of 27. It’s a tough haul.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/20/2015 @ 4:05 pmWhat a terrible tragedy! Sorry for their loss. Speechless….
WarEagle82 (44dbd0) — 9/20/2015 @ 5:14 pmI’m so sorry for her loss. To all me of the nicest people out there I wish her well.
Tanny O'Haley (c674c7) — 9/20/2015 @ 5:31 pmprayers for her loss, both the white house which employed her husband, and fox was sloppy in their statement,
narciso (ee1f88) — 9/20/2015 @ 5:34 pmWe are sorry to hear of your loss with Jake’s passing. We enjoy your segments with O’Reilly (and Juan). Sending our love, prayers, and cyber hugs.
Mark, Irene, and Susan (623b12) — 9/20/2015 @ 5:37 pmSuch a devastation. Hopefully everyone on the Left will join the Right in this kind of time and help out the children. MKH always seemed bright, and witty, and fun. She didn’t deserve this, and now has a heavy burden.
She and her children are in my prayers.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 9/20/2015 @ 5:53 pmI was going to read the Gospel according to John tonight in any case.
I’m very sorry to hear of Mary Katharine Ham’s loss. I look at that picture and all I can think, as I’ve done so many times since I joined the Navy, why is he gone and my lousy middle aged arse still here?
Steve57 (e812c3) — 9/20/2015 @ 6:05 pmRevelation 1
Steve57 (e812c3) — 9/20/2015 @ 6:09 pmUPDATE: I am posting the Bible verses that Ham cites in her Instagram post. It is a hard and dark journey to find the way back from brokenhearted despair to renewed joy. Yet, with a tiny amount of faith and the passage of time, the light at the end of the black tunnel can be reached and joy can once again be known. God gives us His words to strengthen, encourage, guide and to be the salve to our wounds while we hold onto the lifeline that is Him:
Psalm 34:18 – The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Philippians 1:3 – I thank my God in all my remembrance of you…
Dana (86e864) — 9/20/2015 @ 6:21 pmSteve57,
I lost a near-lifelong friend to brain cancer recently. My octogenarian parents had known her since she was 17 and she died at 58. They were crushed and brokenhearted, both despaired that they were still alive, healthy and whole, while such a young, beautiful woman perished. Such are the mysteries to us, and the divine choice of God. You, me, my parents, for whatever reason, God is not ready for us to go home yet. There is still work to do. Which, speaking strictly for and about myself, only confirms to me that he can indeed somehow be pleased and glorified by the most unworthy among us.
Dana (86e864) — 9/20/2015 @ 6:26 pmMary Katharine, I am so sorry- sending my prayers and love too. I was widowed when my children were young- twenty-two years ago earlier this month. God Bless and keep you and Georgia and the new baby. May you find that peace that passeth all understanding. Find Jake’s star- he’ll always be there for you and your children.
Deborah (9eb451) — 9/20/2015 @ 6:33 pmWhen I consider how phenomenal a man must be to win a heart like MKH’s, I am convicted that the world has lost a magnificent soul.
God bless MKH and his families.
Ed from SFV (3400a5) — 9/20/2015 @ 7:55 pmMuch too young. I remember hearing it said once that the saddest person at a young man’s funeral is the old man, because he knows all of the magnificent small joys of life that the deceased will never get to experience. I hope MKH and her family are well-consoled by family and friends in this tragic hour.
JVW (ba78f9) — 9/20/2015 @ 8:48 pmPrayers for MKH and all who have lost loved ones.
felipe (56556d) — 9/20/2015 @ 8:50 pmOur society is diminished by his passing.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 9/20/2015 @ 9:02 pmNo, Dana, you have me pegged.
I’ll tell my tale of personal woe, if ever, some other time. But I’ve been to at least several funerals in the past 15 years where the reality
struck cold and hard.
It would be so much simpler, the crying would stop so much sooner, if I was the guy in the box, and the guy in the box was standing in my place, holding his five year old
daughter’s and his three year old son’s hand.
I don’t have children, which is one way it would be simpler.
Steve57 (e812c3) — 9/20/2015 @ 9:29 pmIndeed, sir.
Steve57 (e812c3) — 9/20/2015 @ 9:32 pmI’ve actually ridden down that specific road in that exact area. That whole area is a hilly, somewhat treacherous area. Not because of poor maintenance, but just because of the terrain. If he was going downhill, he could’ve easily exceeded 40-60 mph on a sharp turn.
Despite all that, it’s an ill-used stretch of road that, despite being narrow with poor visibility, has speed limits in excess of 45 mph *and* people blow that limit without even a little thought. It’s a long trip through nothing with no one, so people tend to floor it.
Jason Boisvert (aedb59) — 9/21/2015 @ 4:17 amAwful. Horrible. Too soon.
JD (128de3) — 9/21/2015 @ 5:00 amAlthough I did not know them personally my circle here has just lost two men in their working prime at exercise maintenance/play.
Life is brief, do not waste your hour.
DNF (36ae6c) — 9/21/2015 @ 6:39 am$194,307
happyfeet (831175) — 9/21/2015 @ 12:52 pmI always read her, and listened to her on … Hugh Hewitt I think? What a terrible loss. I hope that she gets the support that she will need.
carlitos (c24ed5) — 9/22/2015 @ 8:00 am