When Amar popped the question it saved my life
Couple’s love helps Syra as she undergoes treatment for breast cancer Syra and Amar are planning the big day The surprise proposal
An Overtown cafe owner who battled an aggressive form of breast cancer claims a romantic marriage proposal saved her life.
When Syra Ali was diagnosed at Wishaw General Hospital at 34, she feared she might not survive and told partner Amar Ali to leave her.
Instead of leaving, he refused and asked her to marry him – twice.
The thought of her wedding helped Syra cope through her treatment and now she’s been given the all clear, she’s full of hope for her family’s future in Wishaw.
Speaking of her diagnosis, she said: “It was a massive shock because nobody in my family has had any kind of cancer, never mind breast cancer.
“I was very teary and emotional. You wonder whether you’re going to survive.
“As soon as someone mentions cancer you think it’s a death sentence.”
Syra was told she had triple negative breast cancer, which is an uncommon and aggressive form.
She added: “When I was diagnosed with cancer I didn’t know how bad it was. I had said to Amar to leave me because I didn’t know what the future would hold and I didn’t want him to see me going through it.
“He said, ‘You can try to push me away but I’m not going anywhere’.
“Then he surprised me two weeks after my diagnosis – he turned up with his whole family and asked my dad for my hand in marriage.”
Syra had a grade two cancerous tumour that was s 2.5cm long – but t following the chemo o it shrunk to just 4mm. m
Just after Syra had finished her r sixth chemotherapy y session in October, , Amar proposed d again after giving g her a series of clues s to track him down.
Hi s brother r Kasim played Syra a a recorded message e from Amar saying g she had to solve e clues to find him. of tourists and I was so overwhelmed I
She said: “He was dressed as Where’s forgot to say yes. Wally, which is what we used to read “It was a wonderful day and I was so as kids. touched by the time and effort he’d put
“But instead of Where’s Wally this was into the proposal.” Where’s Amar.” Syra, who has a 13-year-old son called
Syra was shown a picture of Amar in a Faisal, had known Amar, 36, from school park – and recognised it as Lanark Loch, but the couple only got together two where they’d first met two years before. years ago.
When she got to the location, his They had a wedding blessing on younger brother Kamran was waiting Amar’s birthday in February and now with another photo clue and a rose. they’re looking forward to a traditional The hunt took her to the first cinema Pakistani week of celebrations building where they’d seen a film up to their official marriage in July. tog together in Glasgow, Syra was also keen to praise The Haven the their first Italian charity, who have a base in the grounds res restaurant date and . of Wishaw hospital, as their therapies fin finally Stirling, which a and emotional support helped her cope the they’d ori g i na l l y during her cancer battle. disc discussed as a possible She added: “The Haven was a safe wed wedding location. haven.
A Amar was waiting “I explained I wasn’t sleeping, that I the there with a bouquet, hadn’t slept for five days. got down on one knee “I was trying to be brave in front of my and proposed with a family and I didn’t know how to cope. speS specially designed ring. “They spoke to me and counselled me
She said: “Thankfully and helped me deal with panic attacks he wasn’t dressed as and got me relaxation therapy.” Wa Wally but it was in For information on The Haven, call fron front of two bus loads 01698 727 884.