Twitter user James William posted a thread on the platform to commemorate his 27-year marriage to his wife Sheila, who died from multiple sclerosis on April 19, 2015.

He starts the Twitter thread by detailing how they met and how he was transfixed by his late wife’s beauty and intelligence.

James said that Sheila was his first in many ways, including his first true love and girlfriend. She was also highly accomplished, graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law and going on to become a successful attorney.

James said he was so dedicated to her that he got a job as a copy editor at a law firm to proofread her briefs and deposit his checks in her account.

They got married and had four children, including one who passed as an infant and one who has autism. The couple went on to live a happy life, but in 2006 Sheila was diagnosed with MS.

James recalled Sheila’s last week of life and being admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital because her vital signs “were just not good.” Within 15 minutes after arriving at the hospital, she went into cardiac arrest.

 

Although grief-stricken by his wife’s state, James suggested they had previous conversations about their end-of-life wishes.

He called his pastor and made one of the most challenging decisions a husband can make regarding his wife’s life.

He said goodbye to Sheila, whispering in her ear as she transitioned.

To James’ surprise, before her death, Sheila instructed her friends to help him find another wife.

James’ story demonstrates the gravity of the phrase “in sickness and in health, till death do us part.”

multiple sclerosis