Eti Murray is a mother of two girls who tragically lost her husband and soulmate, Andy, to cancer. With financial protection in place, she was able to spend time with Andy in his final months and care for her children without money worries.
Tell us a bit about your life with Andy.
I was blessed to meet Andy, and we fell in love the moment we set eyes on each other. He was everything anyone could ask for – warm, genuine, honest, funny, intelligent, caring, gentle and very handsome.
From the day we met, we were rarely apart. We faced challenges together with strength and smiles, knowing we were invincible together. Our love for each other and our family grew every day. He was an inspiration to our girls – and sometimes a source of embarrassment, whether loudly whistling at school events or dancing in a pink bunny costume at his sister’s wedding cruise.
What was Andy like?
Andy loved computers and thrived in his role at Oracle, becoming an expert in his field. I was so proud of how people around the world sought his expertise and kindness. It was humbling that his funeral was streamed globally so that others could pay their respects.
Andy was just 51 when he passed away. His illness came as a shock – he was a healthy marathon runner who’d barely been ill. It took only six months for the cancer to take him, despite the incredible care from the Royal Marsden Hospital.
Had you spoken about financial protection?
Andy had a strong relationship with his bank manager, who encouraged us to think about financial protection early on. This became even more important when we became parents – we always wanted our girls to be financially secure.
What made you put the cover in place?
We regularly reviewed our protection as life changed and were fortunate to find Monica (MB Associates’ Managing Director) and her amazing team.
How did life change after Andy passed away?
When Andy died, my world shattered. I didn’t know who I was or what to do. I was devastated and unable to function, needing time off work as I couldn’t cope with even simple tasks.
What difference did financial protection make?
It was a huge relief not having to worry about money while caring for Andy, and after he passed. While I would give it all back to have my soulmate here, that security allowed me to focus on what mattered – being with Andy and giving myself time to grieve.
Without it, I would likely have had to rely on benefits due to being unable to work.
What would you say to others?
I would absolutely recommend putting financial protection in place with the right professional support. When my world was falling apart, Monica, Kirsty, Helen and the team were like family. The care they gave us felt just as important as the financial support. I feel incredibly lucky to have shared 30 wonderful years with my soulmate, and to have had such amazing people supporting me.