A woman from Colne was left widowed after losing her husband to cancer just six months after their wedding.

Emma Smith has told how her husband Scott died after a battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma - a type of blood cancer - in August last year.

The pair - who met in their teens - had got married just six months earlier in March.

The 29-year-old said: "Scott and I met when I was 18 and he was 19, we were both on a night out in Burnley. I remember saying to Scott that I didnt want a boyfriend as I was going away to university in Birmingham and I wasnt going to be coming home every weekend!

"But he said that was fine, and the rest is history."

Just over two years ago, Scott Smith, a 29-year-old firefighter, discovered a lump on his neck.

Due to his dad having recently died from prostate cancer, he was particularly aware of his health and went straight to see his GP.

Emma added: "His GP said it wasnt anything serious. Scott wasnt happy so he went back again and saw the practice manager who told him to come back in six weeks if the lump hadnt gone."

After returning to his GP six weeks later, Scott was referred to hospital for tests which revealed that he had Hodgkins Lymphoma - a type of blood cancer.

Emma said: "We were told that if you get cancer, this is the one you want to get as its so curable and easy to treat. Six months of chemotherapy and then you should be fine.

"Because of this we really thought everything was going to be okay, but things didnt work out that way at all."

A few days after receiving his diagnosis, Scott started chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, he didnt respond to treatment like doctors had hoped.

This is when the possibility of a stem cell transplant was first mentioned. Despite numerous knock backs, Scott approached the road ahead with positivity and bravery.

The Colne woman explained: "We were told if chemo works, he will need a transplant. That was the dream, a transplant. The chance of a cure."

Emma and Scott had got engaged in 2017 and had their wedding booked for April of last year.

Due to Scotts diagnosis, they took the decision to cancel the wedding in advance, as they thought Scott would be too ill to go ahead with the day.

Emma recalled: "However when we were sat in the hospital one day, we decided to get married. We were madly in love and best friends, we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.

"Just six weeks later we got married surrounded by our closest friends and family, it was a magical day filled with love and laughter."

Shortly after their wedding, Scott developed a hole between his oesophagus and bronchial, which was caused by the cancer and worsened by the radiotherapy he was having. This resulted in fluid directly entering his lungs and he developed pneumonia after pneumonia.

Emma explained: "At this point we were told that we had two options, stop the radiotherapy and give Scott end of life care or they could attempt to reconstruct Scotts airways, but we were told that he could be in hospital for up to two years and chances are he wont survive.

"So, they gave us two choices but really there was only one."

In April, Scott stopped all treatment and Emma stopped work to care for him.

Emma's sisters, Hannah and Charlie, and the rest of their close family and friends rallied around both her and Scott during this time.

Scott died in August, at the age of 30.

Emma said: "The week before Scott died our friends and family didnt leave the house. Charlie lived in London but came to stay with her boyfriend, Lynas and Hannah was even with Scott when he passed away.

"Im so close to my sisters, we speak numerous [times] a day. Its the little things, Hannah has given me a house key and they took me away between Christmas and New Year, as they knew it was going to be a difficult time.

"The list of things they do for me is endless, Im very lucky. As clich as it sounds, I couldnt have got through it without them.

"I know that Scott took great comfort in knowing I had them by my side."

Before Scott died, Emma talked to him about doing the London Marathon and after asking Hannah and Charlie if they would be up for the challenge, the three of them signed up for the 2020 event together.

They are raising money for the blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.

The trio call themselves the Hope Runners as they aim to give hope to other people like Scott, who sadly died before he was able to have a stem cell transplant.

Emma claims running has helped her to cope since the passing of her husband.

She said: "Weve set ourselves a big goal for fundraising and training to give us something amazing and positive to focus on in what we know will be the hardest year.

"Weve seen each other through the darkest of times so if we can get through that together, we can get through a marathon."

Anthony Nolan is the charity that finds matching donors for people with blood cancer and gives them a second chance of life.

The charity also carries out ground-breaking research to save more lives and provide information and support to patients after a stem cell transplant.

Anna Scalera, head of events and community at Anthony Nolan, said: We are delighted that the Hope Runners are lacing up her trainers and running theLondon Marathonfor us this year.

"With every mile completed they will be providing hope. The funds they raise will enable us to recruit more potential stem cell donors to the Anthony Nolan register any one of whom could give a second chance of life for someone with blood cancer.

To find out more about The Hope Runners, or to make a donation, click here.

Originally posted here:
Colne woman widowed after husband dies just six months after wedding - LancsLive