Love That Defied Everything

Illness, pandemic, distance – but we endured

5 years of hell. 5 years of struggle. 5 years of never giving up. In six days, we’ll finally be together again.

When we were both sick, this was our way of being close to each other. 8000 kilometers apart, but always together – even in our sleep.

This blog post was originally published in the Norwegian section of the blog on March 12, 2025.

On September 21, 2019, I left a sick Laila in Chiang Mai. I was just supposed to make a quick trip to Norway, work a bit, earn enough money to pay for her treatment, and then come back. That was the plan. We knew things were serious, but we had no idea how sick she really was.

Now, as I – hopefully – arrive in Chiang Mai, it will have been 5 years, 5 months, and 25 days since I left. 2005 days, if you prefer. But who’s counting?

It’s been a trial like no other, with countless ups and downs.

The biggest "up" was when Laila came to Bodø in the fall of 2023. Even if it was only for 45 days, it was incredible to be together again.

But this time? When I travel to her now, the plan is to stay together for 45 years – or more...

I don’t even remember if it was three or four times the doctors told us there was nothing more they could do for Laila.

That we had to prepare for the worst. That this was the end.

We’ve said goodbye more times than I care to count.

Sitting in Norway and saying goodbye to the woman you love, without being able to travel to her, has been inhumane.

Being too sick yourself to travel while she’s fighting for her life – that’s been pure torture.

The only thing I could do was be there for her through a screen.

We’ve both been sick, lying in separate beds with 8000 kilometers between us.

When Laila was at her weakest, we kept the cameras on – both of us – just so we could be “together,” even if it was only through a screen.

Even when we slept, the cameras stayed on, so we could keep an eye on each other.

That was the only way to feel “close.”

But time and time again, Laila has defied death.

Time and time again, the doctors have found a new treatment, a new chance, a new possibility.

Experimental drugs, treatments still in development – anything that could buy her one more day, one more week, one more month.

And now?

Now all those extra days have added up to something I never thought would actually happen.

In six days, we’ll be together again.

Not on a screen.

Not with a countdown hanging over our heads.

This time, we’ll be together – for good.

In just a few days, we’ll be husband and wife.