Meri Brown has some tragic news to share with her fans and followers. The 52-year-old Sister Wives star took to Instagram on Friday (Oct. 6) to post a touching and heartbreaking tribute in honor of her older brother, Adam Barber – who passed away on Thursday (Oct. 5), just two months shy of his 55th birthday.
His death comes just five weeks after he decided to ‘not continue his chemo treatment, due to the rapid progression of his cancer & deterioration of his body,’ according to Meri – who wrote of her emotions in a long caption. She expressed her appreciation for all the good (and bad) memories she has had with him.
“Shortly after I learned that Adam’s cancer was terminal & that he potentially had only weeks or months to live, something hit me like a ton of bricks. After his passing, I would be the one remaining from the original four,” she wrote – referring to her and her three oldest siblings (Teresa, Mark, Adam) as the ‘original four.’
Teresa Barber Kunz, who was the youngest of the ‘original four,’ died of cancer in 2006. Marc Barber, who was the oldest of the ‘original four,’ died of heart complications in 2015. And now Adam, who was a few years older than Meri, died of cancer just a few days ago. That means Meri is the only one standing.
“Now, I understand that it’s not just me. I still have 3 younger sisters with us, the 7 of us just mom’s kids. Plus many other siblings from our large family structure,” she writes – adding that she doesn’t quite understand why Adam’s passing is impacting her the way that it is, now that she’s the only one standing.
She goes on to explain why she thinks they referred to themselves as the ‘original four.’ Not only were they the only four born in California ‘and have memories of our young childhood there,’ but they were the only four who were alive prior to her mother and father moving to Utah and starting a plural family there.
“I don’t know what it is, but there’s always been something about the original 4. Not better, just different. Not closer, just different,” she writes in the caption. “Maybe because we were born in closer succession, with only 1-1/2 to 2 years between us all? Even still, Elaine, child number 5, was only 3 years later.”
Meri Brown Will ‘Move Forward Living, Loving, Forgiving, Remembering’
Meri Brown doesn’t know if she’ll ever figure out why Adam’s death is hitting her so hard, but she does know one thing. She’s going to move forward and honor her siblings through the many good, bad, funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking memories she has with each of them – starting with her brother, Adam.
“Regardless, (and you have no idea how bad I want to type in ‘irregardless’ there, in honor of [Adam] & our many arguments about whether that is even a word) I will move forward living, loving, forgiving, remembering,” she wrote – referring to one of the many brother-sister arguments they had growing up.
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“The relationship I had with him taught me many things, and I have no doubt will continue to teach me things. I remain open to those lessons & look forward to them with anticipation. For now, I remember him with honor, kindness, & love,” she concluded. “PS Adam, I have the last word. And that is REGARDLESS”
