Redcliffe nurse Chelsea Lategan dies from leukaemia at 28 years old

“We planned out an entire trip that will never happen”: The husband of a beautiful young nurse has shared his bittersweet final conversation with his wife after a cruel health twist.

Chelsea and Dirk Lategan. Picture – social media.

A Redcliffe nurse who dedicated her career to caring for others has died in hospital, after more than a decade battling cancer, with her high school sweetheart by her side.

Chelsea Lategan, 28, had been bravely fighting leukaemia for about 13 years – with her husband saying despite her illness she was always the most fun person in the room and lived life to the fullest.

Five years ago, after moving south from Townsville, Mrs Lategan bought a home in Redcliffe with her husband Dirk, graduated university and paved a successful career as a nurse at Redcliffe Hospital ICU.

The pair filled their new home with three adopted dogs and a cat.

Despite their dreams of experiencing all life had to offer, Mr Lategan said they always knew they couldn’t have a normal future.

Chelsea and Dirk Lategan. Picture – social media.

His wife was diagnosed with leukaemia 13 years ago, and since then she has been in and out of hospital with various complications.

A bone-marrow transplant eventually affected her lung capacity as her body reacted badly to the new cells.

About two years ago doctors told them Mrs Lategan would eventually need a lung transplant.

She stopped working in February to go on antibiotics and prepare for the transplant.

But on March 13, she fainted in their home and tests revealed her lung capacity was down to just 18 per cent.

She spent the remainder of her time in the Royal Women’s Hospital on a ventilator.

Chelsea Lategan on her wedding day. Picture – social media.

Mr Lategan said although she’s always been unwell, it had been relatively manageable for them before this.

“She battled through everything. She struggled every day but wouldn’t let anyone see it,” he said.

“She lived as normal of a life as she could and was just so full of life. With everything going on she always had time for her work, family and friends.

“We still managed to travel and go out and have fun.

“She never put her health and everything she was going through before anyone else. She wanted to have a good time and experience life.

“The two of us would always talk about how we were living life to the fullest.”

Chelsea and Dirk Lategan at their wedding. Picture – social media.

On Sunday, April 2, doctors told them her lungs were too deteriorated for a transplant, and they could not keep her on a ventilator forever.

“It was horrible. Her last chance was taken away from her and it was all out of our control,” Mr Lategan said.

“It was heartbreaking to hear. We both knew it was never going to be a normal life but we didn’t expect it to end so soon.

“She was expected to live until 40 years old at least. Maybe longer. Some people with her condition live to be 80.

“We had so much planned. A whole life to be lived together.”

Chelsea Lategan. Picture – social media.

On Tuesday, April 4, at 7am, Mrs Lategan was taken off the ventilator, the only thing still keeping her alive.

“I was with her along with immediate family. We kept her really comfortable and were all holding her and talking to her and just spending those last moments being a family,” Mr Lategan said.

“I didn’t leave her side until she died.

“We were finally able to have a proper conversation for the first time in weeks since we could take her breathing tube out.”

Through tears, Mr Lategan shared their last moments together before she fell asleep.

Chelsea and Dirk Lategan at their wedding. Picture – social media.

“We were just being ourselves and pretending it wasn’t happening,” he said.

“We were telling jokes and laughing. Telling each other it was okay and how much we loved each other.

“I think at that time we just didn’t want to talk about it. We had to stay strong for each other and make the most of it.

“We talked about our future as if it were real. All of our life plans and where we wanted to travel to next. You know I think we planned out an entire trip that will never happen.

“But we both knew what was happening. She was terrified. I could see it in her eyes.

“She just wanted to live so badly.”

Chelsea and Dirk Lategan at their wedding. Picture – social media.

Chelsea Lategan died peacefully, in her sleep, at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital about noon.

Her funeral was held on Monday April 17, and attended by all of her family and friends.

“She was the most beautiful and strongest person,” her husband said.

“All she wanted to do was help people and she did that everyday being a nurse.

“I couldn’t be more proud of her.

“She was so passionate and full of life and love. Right up until the very end.”