Family to build memorial garden for dad who died from rare cancer
A Selsey man who died within a year of being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer has been remembered as a doting dad with a ‘heart of gold’.
Father-of-four Guy Lees, 59, died on Saturday, July 3 – one week after marrying his partner of 21 years, Nicki.
The small service was held at the couple’s home in Selsey, after they were given a special license due to Guy’s deteriorating health.
“He was one of these men that never fell out with anyone his whole life,” Nicki said. “Every person he ever met said he had a heart of gold. He adored his family. He doted on his children, he would do anything for them.
“Everyone who knew him adored him.he was perfect in every way, I was very lucky.”
Delivery driver Guy, who was born in Kenya, was one of the longest-serving employees for Tesco in
Chichester.
He was diagnosed withcancerintheoesophagus in August 2020. Nicki said it was a rare form of the disease ‘which you don’t know about until it’s advanced’.
He was told it was an inoperable tumour, which had spread to his liver and was ‘already stage four’.
Nicki said: “We were numb and couldn’t take it in. He knew that something was
wrong but thought it would be a stomach ulcer. The symptoms were like that.”
Guy responded well to chemotherapy and was put into remission for seven months. He was well enough to return to work in April.
However, on his birthday (May 4) Guy became incoherent’. Following a number of tests and scans, it was found that the cancer had returned and was now in his brain.
Due to his high enzyme levels, Guy was told on June 15 that he couldn’t be offered anymore treatment and was ‘told to enjoy the rest of his time with his family’.
Nicki said: “He said to me on Wednesday that he loved me and wanted me to stay strong.”
Guy passed away peacefully after saying goodbye to his two daughters, aged 13 and 15, and two sons aged 12 and 23.
So that the children have ‘somewhere to talk to their dad’ and ‘make new memories’, the family now hope to raise enough money for a memorial garden.
If you would like to make a donation, please visit www. gofundme.com/f/makingmemories-for-the-leesfamily.