Today Show Style Editor Bobbie Thomas broke the devastating news that her husband, Michael Marion, had died on Sunday, December 6, 2020. “Nothing is normal,” she said as the caption to an Instagram post.
“Perhaps nothing will ever be the same again.” It will not work for me. “My husband has left.”
Followers of Bobbie may be aware that Michael had various health challenges in the years leading up to his death, including an ischemic stroke in April 2019 at the age of 40.
Many people wondered if Michael's death was related to his stroke or if another cause of death was discovered.
Here's what we know about his death and how Bobbie has dealt with the tragedy subsequently.
How Did Bobbie Thomas's Husband Die?
Bobbie had been relatively open about Michael's health concerns up until his death, including penning a column for Today in May of 2019 about National Stroke Awareness Month, just a few weeks after Michael's stroke. She said that Michael had been in the hospital for six weeks following his stroke but was already trying hard to recover.
By July 4, 2019, Michael was out of the hospital and ready to join Bobbie and the couple's little son, Miles, in a Fourth of July parade. “My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude — I can't thank everyone enough for all of the kind words and wishes,” Bobbie said in the caption of an Instagram photo she shared to commemorate the occasion.
Michael worked hard to recover from his stroke, and Bobbie said in a statement released after his death that he “had made such progress that he was making plans to return to work.”
However, his health journey was far from over. He ended up in the hospital in late 2020 and died on December 1 of that year.
Michael's most recent hospitalization, according to Bobbie, was “due to problems involving several organ systems” and was “separate from his stroke of 18 months ago.” She further stated that Michael's hospitalization had nothing to do with the continuing COVID-19 outbreak.
His cause of death was discovered to be a bacterial illness that caused his organs to fail after an autopsy. Bobbie sent a heartfelt letter and guidance to those who were grieving at the time of her death.
“With all of the fear, anger, and division in the world right now, it's easy to become frustrated by the lack of normalcy.” But I want everyone reading this to focus on what you do have right now rather than what you don't,” she wrote on Instagram.
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“Kindness is something we all have. At the time, the style editor added, “Absorb it, extend it, exhaust it.” Because, in the end, love is the ONLY thing that matters. If you're fortunate enough to have it, please enjoy it every moment of every day. Especially throughout the difficult moments. There is never enough time, and some of our forevers are far too brief.
“As I type through tears, I embrace gratitude… holding our precious son Miles and memories, of the time I did have with Michael, closer to my broken heart,” Bobbie said at the end of her statement. Thank you for your love and support for us and our family. Please go hug the folks you care about.”
