CANCER BATTLER WEDS
Woman given months to live defies odds and ties knot on ‘happiest day’:
ATERMINALLY ill woman given months to live has defied the odds and married her partner nine months after her devastating diagnosis.
Luke Skinnader proposed to Amelia Page on February 2 on Llanddona beach in Anglesey, just weeks after she was told she had terminal stomach cancer.
Exactly seven months to the day, the pair tied the knot in a stunning ceremony near her husband’s home in Glenveagh National Park in Donegal, Ireland.
It came despite doctors predicting she would be unlikely to meet her new niece, who was born in May.
A heartwarming video of the newly married pair sharing their first dance to Sean Paul’s “Like Glue” shows them beaming with happiness, after what Mrs Skinnader described as the best day of her life.
The 30-year-old, said: “It was more than we ever imagined. It was the best day of my life, it was perfect.
“It was the happiest day. Everyone was full of emotion and it was full of love.
“It was so chilled, there was no stress, I can’t even put into words how perfect it was.
“So many people said it was the best wedding ever.”
Wearing a stunning sleeveless white ball gown-style dress, paired with a jewelled headpiece, the bride was given away by her younger sister and bridesmaid, Lucy Page, 28.
Her youngest sister, Daisy, 22 and two nieces Olivia, nine, and Ruby, five, made up her three other bridesmaids.
“I’m normally a massive tomboy, so I never thought I would wear a dress like the one I chose.
“Everyone who knows me would never had guessed that I’d wear something as princessy as I did,” she added.
“As soon as I tried it on, I knew it was perfect. I cried the first time I put it on.
“I wore the dress with heels for the ceremony, but as soon as it finished, I changed into a pair of Converse trainers I had made for my wedding day.
“They were white, with a picture of a bride and groom on the side with our names on. The groom is passing the bride a little red heart and they have blue laces.
“Luke wore a light green suit that he had made – and he looked amazing.”
She added: “It was weird getting my makeup done, but not my hair – so I rocked a headpiece instead.”
The pair, who have been together since April last year met in Dubai where they both lived before moving to Gaerwen in Anglesey to be with Amelia’s family following her diagnosis.
She was visiting her family at Christmas when she received test results from her doctor in the United Arab Emirates that revealed she had ovarian cancer.
Tragically, the cancer came secondary to the primary source in her stomach that further tests at Ysbyty Gwynedd revealed had spread to her bowel, pelvis, and her ovaries.
But Mrs Skinnader, who is one of only three people in the UK undergoing a trial for PIPAC – Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy – says the tumours are understood to be shrinking.
The treatment is being given alongside regular chemotherapy she is receiving at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
“I was never fearful that I would never get to marry Luke and I’m not worried for my future either,” she added.
“You keep planning everything as you normally would, the cancer has never got in the way of me planning for my future.
“I’ve been getting some really positive hospital results, so I knew I was going to be well enough to marry him.
“I’ve had a bit of a chemo break to be able to enjoy the wedding, but I’m going back to Cardiff next week for the third round of PIPAC. I’ve been feeling fine, and I don’t feel like it’s getting any worse.
“Of course, you never really know with cancer and all the hospital appointments are a bit nerve wracking, but I do feel like I can overcome this.
“When I look in the mirror now, I feel that I look healthy whereas before, I was very grey, I was being sick every time I ate, my ovaries were very painful and I just looked so ill.
“There are always heart wrenching stories about people being diagnosed with terminal cancer, and sadly, you hear of them passing away.
“But nine months after my diagnosis, I’m as healthy as I’ve been since I became ill.”
The pair are heading to the Lake District together for their honeymoon and also have plans to visit their friends in Dubai to celebrate.
Mrs Skinnader, added: “The standout moment of the day was when we were pronounced husband and wife – the whole day was amazing, but that was the most important part of the whole day for me.”
“I couldn’t stop smiling.”