A woman who was given just two weeks to live died days after finally getting married to her long-term partner.
Sarah Obanya, from Lewisham, London, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and told that she didn’t have long left. In the face of such devastating news, Sarah realised that her biggest regret was never getting wed to partner, Chuks.
The mum-of-one was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April 2019 after suffering from a bad back, which she put down to menopause symptoms. She had a hysterectomy in October and was given the all-clear.
However, in January the couple were devastated when doctors revealed the cancer had returned and spread through Sarah’s body including into her lungs and bowel.
So the couple made a big decision and tied the not just five days after being given the crushing terminal diagnosis.
Friends jumped into action to organise a bucket list wedding ceremony, which took place at Guy’s Hospital in London.
‘Sarah was crying when they told us,’ says Chuks. ‘We were both just in shock. I still don’t believe it, I just don’t understand.
‘She was healthy, we thought the cancer had just knocked a few years off her life and maybe she wouldn’t live until 85, but she was supposed to have longer than two weeks.’
The couple met 27 years ago and have never been apart. They met in a pub in London when Chuks was 25 and Sarah was 18, and they have a son, Ethan, who is now 22.
‘The wedding day was the second-best day of my life, because the best day of my life was when I met her,’ says Chuks.
‘I always wanted to get married so it was a regret that we hadn’t gotten round to it. Now, I’ll never take the ring off.
‘The hospital was fantastic throughout the whole thing, there was nothing they couldn’t do for us. Sarah loved it.’
Sarah was originally diagnosed with ovarian cancer after experiencing backache, bloating and shortness of breath.
Despite previously being told she the cancer was in remission, Sarah went back to hospital after suffering breathlessness while swimming, which doctors discovered was due to her lungs being full of fluid.
She and Chuks had both dreamed of getting married one day but had never had the chance and when Sarah was asked after her diagnosis what her biggest regret was, she admitted it was never marrying her teenage sweetheart.
For the wedding itself, decorations, a cake, photographer and makeup artist were all provided for free by friends and well-wishers. Dresses for the last-minute nuptials were donated after a Facebook appeal.
Sarah’s childhood friend, Lizzie Cooper, organised the ceremony for the couple and has written a book dedicated to Sarah about their friendship, Unfiltered.
‘She told me that when she was told the cancer was terminal, a porter walked past and rudely asked what her biggest regret was and she said not getting married,’ says Lizzie.
‘That was the start of it – I put a post on Facebook and people were so kind, they were rushing to help. They were so generous, they were donating dresses, cakes and volunteering to do make up.
‘The legalities were the tricky part, we had loads of people wanting to do the service but we needed to find somewhere licensed, so we ended up doing it in the hospital.
‘It was such an emotional day. It was beautiful, absolutely perfect.’
Sarah passed away at home on 6 February and now Lizzie has started a fundraising page to help the family with funeral costs, which has already raised more than £6,000.
‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you what she was like. You had to meet her,’ says Chuks.
‘She was wonderful, a lady, sincere, her moral compass was firm. She was beautiful and there wasn’t a bad bone in her body. Why Sarah, she was so kind. What am I supposed to do now?’
MORE: Woman quits her job to hike 2,653 miles from Mexico to Canada – on her own
MORE: Meal prepping mum says clever budgeting has saved her over £10,000
MORE: This is how to get free tequila in London tomorrow
source https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/21/terminally-bride-dies-five-days-finally-marrying-partner-27-years-12278252/
0 Comments