Rosi Golan and Jeremy Brennan’s final hug symbolized a love story that began by chance in 2004.
The two met outside a locked bar in New York City after arriving late to a staff meeting, an awkward moment that led to an instant connection.
A few months later, Rosi, a singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, and Jeremy, an Australian native, started dating.
Their bond deepened, and in 2014, they married and built a life together in L.A., where Jeremy worked in tech, and the couple fostered a child.
But their journey took a devastating turn in December 2023. Jeremy was rushed to the emergency room with severe back spasms, waiting hours before doctors discovered alarming growths on his liver and spine.
He was immediately hospitalized, spending the next six weeks under medical care.
A devastating diagnosis and rapid decline
Jeremy’s battle with cancer took a heartbreaking turn just weeks after what seemed like promising treatment.
On January 2, 2024, Jeremy, 43, was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that is often detected at an advanced stage.
He immediately began chemotherapy, and at first, doctors were hopeful—scans showed his tumors shrinking, and the outlook appeared optimistic.
At first, the treatment showed promise. “He was responding really well to the chemo,” Rosi told PEOPLE. “Everything was shrinking. All of his scans were looking really good. The doctors were optimistic, feeling he could have years to live. But then it got weird.”
Despite initial improvements, Jeremy’s condition worsened suddenly. In just seven weeks, he went from seeing a 40% reduction in his tumors to suffering liver failure.
He was hospitalized for dehydration, and signs of jaundice soon appeared.
Doctors delivered the devastating reality—there were no more treatment options, and he had only weeks to live.
Crafting a memory of their final hug
As Jeremy’s health declined, Rosi rushed to fulfill his final wish—returning to Australia to be with loved ones.
She consulted a hematologist about the risks of flying and, despite the uncertainty, booked the tickets, determined to get him home in time.
At the same time, she reached out to ceramicist Patrick Johnston, whom she had met in 2021 during a pottery class in Venice.
She had always admired his unique approach to shaping pottery and had hoped to create something with Jeremy.
Patrick, who was also battling cancer, had once invited them to collaborate, but Jeremy’s hospitalizations had made it impossible.
Now, with little time left, Rosi asked Patrick if they could still make it happen. She knew the moment would be meaningful and something she would cherish forever.
Without hesitation, Patrick promised they would find a way, no matter the circumstances.
With only hours between Jeremy’s hospital discharge and their flight to Australia, Rosi brought him home for a brief rest.
He took a quick shower before joining her family for a final farewell.
In the living room, Patrick waited with the vase they had long planned to create together.
Unbeknownst to Rosi, her mother recorded the moment, capturing some of the couple’s final hug and last kisses.
Shortly after, they rushed to the airport. During the flight, Rosi kept a watchful eye on Jeremy while a flight attendant—a former nurse—checked on him frequently, providing ice packs and vomit bags to ease his discomfort.
Upon arrival, they went straight to the emergency room before heading to a rented beach house.
Loved ones traveled from around the world—Dubai, New York, Florida—to say their final goodbyes.
Finding solace and sharing their story
“It truly held me up during that time,” Rosi says. “I honestly didn’t know how I was going to survive. And I don’t think I understood what people’s love and energy could carry you through until that moment. I don’t think I could have stood on my own without it.”
Rosi remembered when Jeremy felt guilty about his inability to spend much time with loved ones who had traveled from afar.
She reminded him that their presence was significant not just for him but for them as well.
Despite his discomfort with being the center of attention, Jeremy was known in Australia as “the show-up guy,” always there when others needed him most.
After Jeremy passed away at 44 on August 24, 2024, Rosi faced the complicated reality of life without him.
In the months that followed, she withdrew, struggling to talk about her grief. As time passed, friends began to drift away, uncertain how to support her.
To cope, she avoided anything that reminded her of Jeremy, including the vase they had created together.
Meanwhile, Johnston continued to check in, reminding her that the vase—her “final hug” with Jeremy—would be there whenever she was ready.
But the weight of grief made it hard to take that step, as facing those memories meant accepting the painful truth of his absence.
Rosi decided it was time to bring flowers home and place them in the vase as the six-month anniversary of Jeremy’s passing and their Valentine’s Day anniversary neared.
Before heading to the studio, she rewatched the video of their final hug, letting the emotions sink in.
On the way there, the weight of the moment hit her. Watching the video of their final hug again made her realize how significant that memory was.
When she arrived, she shared her emotions with Johnston, feeling overwhelmed and grateful for his support.
Seeing the vase for the first time since Jeremy’s passing felt surreal. He had still been alive the last time she looked at it.
Now, she was taking it home alone. Struck by its importance, she carefully placed it in her car, even buckling it in, afraid of losing it.
Bringing it inside felt heavy, both physically and emotionally. Every day, it stood as a reminder of her loss but also of the deep love and cherished memories she would carry with her forever.
Rosi initially planned to keep the moment private, recording herself picking up the vase to share only with her mother.
But on impulse, she posted it on TikTok and Instagram, pairing it with footage of her and Jeremy creating the vase with their final hug.
The following day, she considered taking it down. However, after seeing an outpouring of responses—including messages from celebrities like Olivia Munn and Katie Couric, both of whom have been affected by cancer—she decided to leave it up.
The post resonated with many who had experienced loss, reminding Rosi that grief, while deeply personal, also connects people.
The support she received made her feel less alone, showing her that even in sorrow, a shared understanding brings people together.
Rosi often reflects on the time she and Jeremy spent in hospitals and chemo centers, passing the hours on their phones.
They found comfort in watching TikToks together, sharing moments of joy amid the uncertainty.
While researching his cancer, she frequently came across videos from others facing similar struggles.
Now, she realizes someone else may be watching her story from a hospital bed, navigating their battle.
Instead of retreating from grief, Rosi is embracing it through creativity. She is working on a song called “Right Now,” with all streaming proceeds benefiting the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.
She hopes to inspire others to cherish time with loved ones, create meaningful moments, and have important conversations while they are healthy.
Jeremy lived without regrets, always pursuing projects that mattered to him. In his final days, his only concern was how his passing would affect her. Rosi hopes his story will encourage others to live fully in the present, just as he did.
She plans to place fresh flowers in the vase each week to keep his memory close. With no gravesite to visit, the vase has become her way of honoring him.
“I want to always have it where I can see it, either in my living room or somewhere where it’s displayed,” she says.
Watch Rosi and Jeremy’s heartfelt video, creating a beautiful vase designed by their final hug below:
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