Mum who was 'light in so many lives' dies at 39 just a day after wedding

A loving mum who was the "light in so many people's lives" died the day after her wedding.

Gemeila Howard, also known as Gemma, lost her battle with cancer on Saturday, April 23 after originally being diagnosed in 2019 with oesophageal cancer.

The 39-year-old, from Huyton, Merseyside, was set to undergo a major operation to help prolong her life after her initial diagnosis, but was later diagnosed with a Krukenberg tumour - a rare and specific type of tumour that grows in the ovaries - and told she had three months left to live.

After she was given the devastating news, Gemeila decided to get married to her long term partner Antony Howard straight away, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Their friend Sean Brien said: "They got married on the Friday and she died on Saturday night. It was an amazing day it really was."

Gemeila Howard, also known as Gemma, lost her battle with cancer on Saturday, April 23 (Family handout)

Sean and friend David McAleny walked Gemeila down the aisle and gave her away on her wedding day - in a moment which he described as "the biggest honour of my life."

A fundraising page has now been set up to support Gemeila's husband Antony and their daughter Freya, aged nine, and help to give her "the best send off."

Paying tribute to Gemeila, Sean said: "Mela was a life long friend who I will miss every second of every day. She was a wonderful mother and the light in so many people's lives.

Gemeila with her husband Antony Howard and their daughter Freya, aged nine (Family handout)

"She left a mark on every person she met and we'll never be the same without her. All her family and friends, her husband Antony and her beautiful daughter Freya are heartbroken. She was loved by so many people."

Despite everything she was going through, Sean said Gemeila, who worked as a charity support worker, "was always there for everyone." She was keen to raise awareness of oesophageal cancer following her diagnosis by asking people to take oesophageal cancer awareness selfies to help highlight symptoms of the disease.

Sean said her husband Antony was always by Gemeila's side after she was diagnosed and he has "stayed so strong" through it all. If you would like to donate to the Just Giving Page click here.