Lauren Brant, the former Hi-5 singer and wife of AFL legend Barry Hall, has marked three years since the devastating death of her sister-in-law with an urgent message for her followers.
Sandra Brant died on March 4, 2021, after being diagnosed with an aggressive and incurable form of bowel cancer.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Hi-5 star Lauren Brant reflects on her family’s 2023.
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She was 41 years old.
Reflecting on the loss of her ”chosen sister”, Lauren said in a heartrending Instagram post that she wished “more than anything” that Sandra was still alive.
She shared a carousel of black-and-white images with her sister-in-law, from weddings to holidays and other memorable moments they had shared together.
“🌻🤍 3 years without my chosen sister 🤍🌻,” her post began.
“I wish more than anything that you were still here.
“For you, for your children … for your family … for our family.
“I wish my children could receive your love, your shining smile, your fun and love of life.
“To think two of them never met you and the other two were so little when we lost you.
“To now be blessed with the most beautiful guardian angel, but to live in pain that we no longer share this physical life with you.
“3 years of grief, feels like 3 days and 300 years all in the same.
“My beautiful Sandra, gone too soon 4-3-21 🌻🤍.”
Lauren finished with a poignant but important message for her followers.
“THIS IS YOUR REMINDER TO DO YOUR AT HOME BOWEL CANCER TEST,” she wrote.
“It could save your life.”
Announcing Sandra’s death on Instagram back in 2021, Lauren wrote: “Always In Our Hearts. At 10.20am on 4 March 2021, our beautiful, Sandra Rosemary Brant, grew her wings at the young age of 41.”
“Sandra lived, always with the most beautiful smile, and acted on what brought her heart joy,” she added.
“She absolutely loved her husband Tyron, son Connor and daughter Allegra, with her whole being.”
After her death, Lauren revealed that Sandra had died in her husband’s arms.
“She took her last breath in her husband’s arms, her favourite place in the whole world, and is now finally at peace,” Lauren wrote.
“For those who have been blessed to know Sandra, have been touched by an Angel.
“Rest In Peace and enjoy your wings, gorgeous girl.”
Sandra married Lauren’s brother Tyron, after they met and fell and love in high school.
She was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2019 and after surgery, her prognosis seemed to be good.
But in 2021 the cancer came back, and this time it was a stage-four diagnosis.
“It absolutely breaks my heart that I am about to write these words, that this is real life,” Lauren shared after learning the devastating news.
Her most recent post marking three years since her sister-in-law’s death drew an outpouring of love and support from followers.
“Beautiful photos ❤️,” one follower wrote.
“Thinking of you and your family on this day and all days.
“Sandy will never be forgotten.
“She will live on in your hearts and continue to inspire us all with the courage she showed and her love for life ❤️.”
“Sending you love ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I still remember watching her story, and thank you for your strength in raising awareness,” wrote another.
“My bowel screen at home came up negative, 6 months later I had stage 4 bowel cancer, if something doesn’t feel right PLEASE don’t give up and push your (doctors) for answers, it could just save your life,” added another.
“Sending you so much love, it’s the ones that are left behind that still share in the pain. ❤️”
Happier news
In happier news, Lauren, 34, and husband Barry Hall, 46, recently announced that they were expecting their fourth child.
“Well, our year is about to get a whole lot more colourful 💐 BABY HALL #4 arriving July,” Lauren captioned a January 23 Instagram post, sharing a photo showing off her baby bump.
“We are so excited to share this news with you all.”
In the photo, the couple posed with their three sons, Miller (six), Houston (four) and Samson (two).
Celebrity friends raced to congratulate the pair.
“Omg!!! Congratulations ❤️” wrote Barry Hall’s SAS Australia co-star, model Simone Holtznagel.
“Biggest congrats family!” added Kyly Clarke.
Others said they had a sneaking suspicion Brant was pregnant before the big reveal.
“Omg I had a feeling this was happening, you are glowing, and I thought I bet … congrats, so beautiful and special,” wrote one fan.
“No way!!!! Congratulations Lauren & co!!! Wonder if you’re destined to be a boy mum, or will you switch it up with a girl!?!” wondered another.
“So happy for you.”
