A heartbroken bride was gearing up to celebrate what should have been one of the happiest days of her life. Lara Heaney's big day, however, turned tragic when on the morning of her wedding, her mother sadly passed away.
Lara, from Newquay, saw her mother hours before she died of pancreatic cancer. The 36-year-old got a knock on her door from her father to give her the heartbreaking news at 6am on the day of her wedding, reports CornwallLive.
The woman says she knew what her dad was going to say as he opened the door as she recalled visiting her parent's accommodation the night before and seeing her mum 'laughing and smiling'. The mother also attended the hen party two nights prior to the big day.
Yet despite the awful circumstances, Lara and her family decided the wedding should go ahead as planned as that is what her mum's dying wish was.
She said: “Mum came out for a drink for my hen do just two nights before the wedding and smiled through the pain.
“Her determination to live her life to the fullest to the very end, is something that will stay with us forever. The night before the wedding I went round to the accommodation where she was staying with my dad, and the rest of our family. We laughed, smiled and I went home to get ready for my big day.
“On the morning at 6am on my wedding day, there was a knock at the door, I leapt out of bed ready for my hair and make-up... but it was my dad letting me know my mum had gone. As soon as I saw it was him at the door I knew what he was going to tell me.
"I knew she wasn't well and what was coming but I didn't think it would be that day. With her last breath and my dad by her side she had told him the day must go on.
“I don’t know how we all kept it together, but through the love and support of my family, we made it and carried out mum’s wish that the wedding should carry on. The priest had made the announcement of mum’s death at the packed church of 200 guests before I arrived and I understand it was handled beautifully.
“Dad made a speech as planned at the reception and included mum’s death of course in the speech. The sun came out the second we left the church, which felt like we were really being looked down upon, I even got sunburnt.
“No one ever forgets our wedding anniversary now, myself and my husband Sean always have a cocktail and remember mum and whenever the sun comes out, I know mum is looking down. Since her death I mark our wedding anniversary and her death by going for a walk on the headland in Newquay. It gives me time to reflect and to remember her. I miss her every day.”
Her mother, Ann, who died aged 60, worked for the NHS at at Leicester’s Glenfield Hospital, focusing on children’s health and heart surgery. She was diagnosed with cancer after a trip of a lifetime to Australia in March 2016 with her husband Andrew. They were visiting their daughter Sarah, son in law Luke and grandson Toby who live in Brisbane.
Lara added: “Mum thought she was just jet lagged as she felt tired and had a pain in her back. After a while she went to see her doctor who gave her blood tests and checked for any gall stone problems. But on March 10, which is my brother’s birthday, we found out that mum had been diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer, which had spread to her liver and we were told it was not treatable.
“With a three-month prognosis we feel very blessed and privileged that she made it to the wedding day as she promised. Pancreatic cancer is such an aggressive cancer with such easily missed symptoms. My mum fought with everything she had to spend more time with us all and we miss her every day.”
Ann was said to have enjoyed her final few months and now Lara is honouring her memory by raising money for Cancer Research UK and taking part in the 5k Pretty Muddy at Stithians Showground on May 20.
She said she is feeling "really nervous" about the challenge but is looking forward to being able to honour her mum and raise money. She added: "I'm not well-known for being into running or fitness but [Pretty Muddy] is something I've always wanted to do.
"I'm nervous but it feels amazing to be able to do it. Pancreatic cancer is such an aggressive cancer and even though it has a low survival rate, it doesn't receive as much publicity about it. So, I think it's important to raise awareness. People have been so generous so far and donated money to our team, which we are really grateful for."
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