Inspirational campaigner Deborah James, 40, reconciled with her then-estranged husband Sebastien Bowen shortly before receiving her devastating bowel cancer diagnosis in 2016.
The BBC presenter has previously recalled how she and her beloved husband once spent two years separated - going on "hideous Tinder dates" with other people - and were in the process of divorcing at one point, before reuniting in November 2016.
The following month, at the age of just 35, Deborah was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in December 2016, which went on to become stage four.
On Monday, the mum-of-two told her fans the "time has come to say goodbye" from a hospice she is currently residing in, after five years of battling the terminal illness.
"I’m under hospice at home care, & I’m spending my time surrounded by my family. Please buy me a wine to see me out and raise vital funds," Deborah wrote within her heartbreaking social media update - going on to raise over £750,000 for charity in just 24 hours.
The popular podcaster is said to be surrounded by her loved ones, including banker Sebastien who she has frequently credited with being "a rock" throughout her cancer battle.
Writing in 2018, the mum-of-two paid tribute to her husband as they celebrated 10 years of marriage - looking back on their happy memories and reflecting on how almost divorcing has made them a stronger couple.
Recalling how they had previously temporarily separated, Deborah explained how she and Sebastien barely saw each other at one point and in 2015 embarked on an initially ‘acrimonious’ divorce, both hiring lawyers and even dating other people.
The pair - who share two children together - agreed to counselling in the hopes of being on better terms for their children but found themselves falling back in love.
After enjoying drinks, then dinner, together after sessions, they eventually reunited and November 2016, Sebastien moved back into their family home - just weeks before Deborah's shock diagnosis the following month.
"Two kids, three house moves, ten job promotions, one career switch, many fab trips, countless raging arguments, beautiful memories, family illness, one dog, and cancer - and we are still standing," Deborah wrote in The Sun when celebrating their relationship back in 2018.
"It's taken two years of separation, nearly divorcing, hideous Tinder experiences, lots of marriage counselling, a hell of a lot of effort on both sides, and cancer to make us both realise no marriage is perfect.
"We've come to realise what we have really is worth fighting for."
In the same article, Deborah praised her husband for being there for her while she battled cancer.
"He's the one wiping my tears, telling me it will be OK," the campaigner wrote.
"He's the one worrying in the waiting room while I go under the knife hoping my surgeons can cut out another tumour."
On Monday, the country was moved when Deborah posted what could be one of her final social media updates - informing her followers that she is under hospice care and preparing to say goodbye.
Deborah's admission her "body simply isn’t playing ball" has devastated fans, who have followed her journey and supported her inspirational campaign work since she first opened up about her diagnosis.
Alongside her own blog, Bowel Babe, Deborah hosts the popular podcast 'You, Me and the Big C' and is a patron of Bowelcancer U.K.
*You can read Deborah's full essay about her diagnosis for Bowel Cancer UK and learn more about the symptoms of cancer here.
