Johnnie Davis’ wedding day was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life. The Omaha, Nebraska woman describes her husband, Toraze, as “charming, funny and a hard worker,” and she said he wanted to make the day they said, “I do,” a day they would always remember.
“It was a dream wedding. It was something. He told me pick whatever you wanna do. I dressed him, I dressed us. Everything was going fine until we went outside,” Johnnie Davis told 3News Now Omaha.
But June 19, 2023, was the last time Johnnie laid eyes on Toraze. The 48-year-old died of a blood clot on the couple’s wedding day, outside of the church, just moments after the couple exchanged vows in front of their friends and loved ones.
According to the CDC, blood clots are a “leading cause of preventable hospital death in the United States.” They say between 60,000 and 100,000 people in this country die of blood clots each year and others suffer “long-term complications.”
“He was there, he went through the whole ceremony. His last words was, ‘Johnnie Mae, I love you, I’m sorry.’ “ Johnnie said.
As KCCI Omaha reports, friends and family stepped in immediately, starting a GoFundMe, a meal train and donations of other supplies and services to support Johnnie and her daughter through their tragic loss.
Now, one year after experiencing an unspeakable tragedy, Johnnie Davis is honoring the life of her late husband. She took time to celebrate their special day by releasing balloons and sharing memories with their daughter and other loved ones.
“I feel good, I mean, it’s a celebration of life and love. it’s our anniversary, so it’s not a sad day,” Johnnie told 3News Now.
Toraze’s cousin Tiffani McCowin sees the day as a reminder to appreciate time spent with loved ones while you can.
“Family is all you got,” she said. “Treasure and cherish the memories and moments you get to spend with them.”