Life has ways of bringing two people that are destined to meet together - that was certainly the case for Joanne Clement and Ben Reeves. The pair met in a Somerset pub on 10 September 2018, exactly four years after Joanne, 47, lost her 18-year-old son Charley to suicide.
Ben, 38, brought "light and happiness" into Joanne's life and made her smile and laugh again - a sight her children, Harry, 26, and Daisy, 19, never thought they'd see. The couple fell in love instantly, moved in and got married, all the while Ben lived with a cancerous brain tumour.
Joanne says you "wouldn't have known" Ben had a tumour, but in November, he was shocked to receive a Stage 4 diagnosis and told he only had months to live.
Now Joanne faces a future without her "soul mate", who she spends every waking moment with - from food shopping and walking their labradoodle Martha to watching TV and exploring new places.
The loved-up couple have plans to renew their wedding vows on 10 February and would love to go abroad for the first time to Italy - where they could try to forget about his incurable disease.
Joanne told the Mirror: "I've lost my Charley and now I'm going to lose my Ben. I can't imagine what life will be like without him. It's going to be horrendous.
"I never thought I'd be happy again or find love, then I spotted Ben and plucked up the courage to ask him on a date - we've been together ever since.
"He's loving, kind and empathetic, he's just one-of-a-kind and has a very gentle soul. He always puts me and the children first."
Ben, who has no biological children of his own, has become a father figure to Harry, Daisy and granddaughter Pixie, and the whole family fears how they will cope without him.
Joanne's close friend Dawn Carey has set up a fundraising page to try and make Ben's last few months as stress-free as possible.
Ben is yet to think about a bucket list, but would love to watch Stoke City, Bristol Rovers or Bristol Bears with Harry, and go to a drum and bass gig with Joanne.
"I just want them to not have to worry; to be able to go and have a meal and choose what they want off the menu, to be able to drive down to Cornwall and think 'sod it, let's stay over tonight'," Dawn said.
"They've never been abroad together and I'd love them to go on a honeymoon and make more memories with the children."
Dawn says Joanne "always puts other people first" and never prioritises herself - having given up her primary school teaching job to care for Ben.
After Charley took his own life in September 2014, Joanne channelled all her energy into setting up In Charley's Memory, a charity that supports young people.
"At times, we all thought we would be saying goodbye to Jo as her grief was so strong. But her children, family and friends have helped her through the darkest times," Dawn said.
Ben was first diagnosed with a brain tumour 12 years ago and has since had brain surgery three times, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and regular monitoring.
At the end of last year, Ben was given the tragic news that the cancer had spread to a different part of his brain - which nobody expected to hear.
"Before when it's come back it's always been Stage 2, never Stage 4," Jo explained. "I thought that we'd grow old together and we made plans for the future.
"We wanted to hire a campervan and travel the UK and we wanted a cockapoo puppy.
"I call Ben my warrior because he won't go down without fighting. Optimism and hope, which he has an absolute of abundance of, goes a long way."
Ben added: "I never thought about what the end of my life would look like. I still don't feel like I'm going to pass away this year. But I'm not giving up - I'm staying on as long as I can."
If you would like to donate to Joanne and Ben's final memories together, please visit Dawn's fundraising page.
If you are struggling or know someone who is, get in touch with In Charley's Memory on 01278 557490.
Do you have a real-life story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
