Loving on the Murray Family

Update 3/7/2025

Celebration of Life Update

Our family would like to provide an update regarding Sarah’s Celebration of Life. We will host the celebration in Stevenson Ranch, CA, on Saturday, March 29. We’d like to invite anyone who wishes to celebrate her life to join us - more details and to RSVP, as well as an online memory wall for sharing memories and photos, can be found at the following link: https://www.online-tribute.com/SarahMurray

With Love and Gratitude,

Jacob, Emerson, Yvonne, Marty, Bradley, Sheila, James, and Alexx

Update 1/18/2025

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,

We, Sarah’s family—her husband, Jacob; her precious daughter, Emerson; her devoted parents, Yvonne and Marty; her cherished brothers, Bradley and James; and her beloved sisters-in-law, Sheila and Alexx—want to begin by expressing our deepest gratitude for the unwavering support, kindness, and prayers you have offered throughout her courageous battle over the past year and a half. Your generosity and compassion have been an incredible source of comfort and hope during our most challenging moments.

It is with immense sadness that we share the news that Sarah passed on Monday, January 13, 2025. She fought longer than most, harder than all, and loved bigger than anyone. Every day, she displayed a strength that conquered the most challenging obstacles, and her love knew no bounds. Sarah will be profoundly missed, but her ‘warrior spirit’ lives on in every precious memory and heart she touched.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7

This scripture reflects Sarah's unwavering faith and resilience throughout her journey. We hold onto the promise that her loving spirit remains with us, and we take comfort in knowing she is at peace.

To each and every one of you who stood by us—through donations, comforting words, and ceaseless prayers—we extend our heartfelt thanks. Your kindness has truly carried us, and we will forever be grateful. As our family grieves this tremendous loss, we ask for your continued understanding and respect for our privacy during this difficult time. For those able to make additional donations, thank you in advance, as the medical bills, funeral costs, and childcare considerations are already starting to pile up.

In the days/weeks ahead, we will share details about a Celebration of Life to honor Sarah’s memory. We look forward to gathering with those who loved her most, celebrating the remarkable woman she was and the enduring legacy of her love.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being there for Sarah and helping keep her spirit alive.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jacob, Emerson, Yvonne, Marty, Bradley, Sheila, James, and Alexx

Update 11/26/2024

Dear Family and Friends,

We would like to say a very heartfelt thank you to all of you. We truly appreciate the financial support, prayers, and check-ins we have received from everyone. It has officially been a year since this began, and it has been the most difficult year of our lives, to say the least. But your love, support, and prayers help more than you know.

Please continue to pray as we continue to fight this battle.

Sincerely,

-The Murray and McGough families

Update 6/1/2024

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,

We extend our deepest gratitude to each of you for your steadfast support and prayers for the Murray family's courageous battle against cancer. Today, we bring you a significant update on Sarah's journey, a testament to her beauty, enduring strength, and resilience. Your generosity, compassion, and unwavering faith are pillars of hope for Sarah, Jacob, and little Emmerson.

In March 2024, Sarah completed her initial eight rounds of chemotherapy with the hope that these treatments would enable the surgical removal of the remaining cancerous tumor. However, an unexpected turn of events led to a new series of challenges. Soon after finishing her chemotherapy, Sarah began experiencing severe pneumonia-like symptoms, including shortness of breath, pain, and a persistent, heavy cough. After several weeks of battling these distressing symptoms, Sarah was readmitted to the hospital. The medical team discovered a substantial accumulation of fluid in her lungs, necessitating Thoracentesis on both sides. While this intervention provided critical relief, the fluid tested positive for cancer cells, significantly altering the medical strategy.

Since then, Sarah has undergone multiple Thoracentesis procedures, and her medical team has implemented a new chemotherapy protocol in response to these findings. Sarah began the new chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday, May 15th, and will continue to receive chemotherapy every other Wednesday. Despite these treatments, she continues to deal with large amounts of lung fluid. To manage this more effectively, the doctors have placed a Thoracostomy tube, which facilitates regular drainage and provides significant symptomatic relief; however, Sarah has described this as being extremely painful.

As Sarah and her family navigate this complex and arduous journey, they need your prayers and financial support.

Thank you for your love, support, and prayers.

-The Murray Family Support Team

Update 12/15/23

Providing an important update on the Murray family -Sarah, Jacob, and little Emerson. First and foremost, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love and support that all of you have showered upon the Murray family during these trying times. Your unwavering support has been a beacon of hope, joy, and solace in their lives during a period marked by uncertainty and sorrow.

Sarah, in her remarkable resilience, continues to heal from her recent surgery, and now the focus is shifting to what lies ahead. Here's what's on the horizon for the Murray family: Sarah's medical team has determined that the next critical step is to address and eliminate the remaining cancer. To achieve this, Sarah will be embarking on a course of chemotherapy treatments starting on Monday, December 18th, 2023.

The doctors are optimistic that these bi-weekly chemotherapy sessions will prove effective in combating the remaining cancer. However, this journey will undoubtedly present its own set of challenges, both physically and emotionally. Sarah will need the continued support of your prayers and love as she faces the demands and complexities of this invasive treatment.

Your continued presence and support are a source of strength and encouragement for the Murray family as they navigate this daunting path toward healing and recovery. Together, we can provide the unwavering backing they need during this challenging chapter in their lives.

-Thank you, The Murray Family Support Team

November 28, 2023

We are grateful you are here- welcome!

We understand that there are numerous meaningful ways to stand by and provide solace to the Murrays. This platform offers a practical and valuable avenue for aiding The Murray family through these challenging times.

Our primary objective is to assist the Murray family in managing the financial burdens that have arisen over the past few weeks due to the extraordinary cost of care and the impact on their ability to work during this time. But perhaps the most vital support we can collectively offer is our prayers and positive thoughts.

Your goodwill and well-wishes can make a profound difference in their journey.

The Murray Story:

In the fall of 2023, Jacob, Sarah, and Emerson (2 years) Murray embarked on the exciting journey of welcoming another child into their family. Initially, there were no major concerns, but Sarah did experience a significant amount of nausea and, later in the first trimester, an unexpected surge in her blood pressure.

As her pregnancy progressed into the second trimester, complications began to escalate. Strikingly, the medication prescribed to manage her high blood pressure proved ineffective.

Sarah's journey led her to the UCLA Medical Facility, where she and Jacob confronted the most complex and challenging situation. By the time Sarah reached her 22nd week of pregnancy, her medical team discovered two highly concerning tumors located near her ovaries and detected an accumulation of fluid in her lungs. This alarming development necessitated a four-day stay at the UCLA Labor and Delivery unit. During this time, a battery of tests was conducted to gain deeper insights into Sarah's condition, alleviate her severe symptoms, and ensure the well-being of both the baby and Sarah. Sarah, Jacob, and Emerson went home for a few days while test results were analyzed, and specialists could devise a plan that would accomplish their goal of saving both Mama and Baby Murray.

After a brief respite at home following her initial hospitalization, Sarah faced the daunting prospect of returning to UCLA for further evaluations and consultations with a team of medical experts. What was supposed to be a couple of routine doctor appointments took an unexpected turn, extending into an agonizing eight-day hospital stay. During this critical period, it became evident that Sarah needed to undergo emergency surgery to address the largest and most aggressive tumor that posed the gravest threat to her health.

The decision to move forward with the surgery was a weighty one, but it was considered essential to mitigate the severe health risks facing both Mama and Baby Murray. The surgical procedure to remove the tumor went smoothly, without any unforeseen complications or emergencies that could have jeopardized the well-being of Mama or Baby Murray. However, the medical team did confirm that the tumor they had removed did indicate the presence of cancer. While the doctors anticipated that Sarah's pregnancy would continue to progress as expected and normal, they recognized that managing the cancer would be a complex challenge because any intervention or treatment could potentially pose a threat to Baby Murray.

Several days after the surgery, and for reasons that continue to remain medically unexplained, Baby Murray tragically passed away in the womb during the night. He left this world surrounded by the unwavering love of his mother, Sarah, and father, Jacob.

Just four days after undergoing major surgery, Sarah had to summon super-human strength to traverse the heart-wrenching process of giving birth to their son. This extraordinary moment, filled with both sorrow and profound love, was a testament to the resilience of the Murray family and the steadfast spirit that has carried them through this challenging chapter of their lives.

William (Liam) Dean Murray

Born to Jacob and Sarah Murray

Went to be with the Lord at 4:57pm, Monday, November 20th, 2023

In that sacred moment Sarah and Jacob shared with their son, they expressed their deep gratitude for his courage and selflessness. This tiny soul, whom they've affectionately dubbed the ‘biggest- tiniest hero," played a pivotal role in their lives. William Dean’s very existence unearthed the underlying health issues that had silently lurked within Sarah's body. When Sarah's pregnancy posed a grave threat to her survival, this little hero made a courageous decision to save his mommy, offering his own life in exchange. William Dean Murray left a permanent mark on this world in just a few fleeting months, an accomplishment many people try to achieve in an entire lifetime.

We kindly ask you to hold the Murray family close in your thoughts and prayers as they embark on this profoundly challenging chapter in their lives. The journey ahead is fraught with uncertainties as they grapple with the unexpected loss of their son and confront the daunting reality of an ambiguous cancer diagnosis. In addition to their emotional and physical burdens, they face the weighty financial strain these events will place on their family for an extended period.

Uncertainty, challenges, and immense courage mark the Murray family's journey. Your presence here and your support are instrumental in helping them navigate this difficult path. We encourage you to join us in offering your prayers, positive thoughts, and financial assistance as we stand by the Murrays during this challenging time.

Thank you for being a part of their story.

Warm regards,

The Murray Family Support Team