Young mum dies exactly a month after her husband passed away in his sleep

"Amie was a fighter the strongest person we’ve ever known and she fought bravely to the very end."

When cancer battler Amie Walton went to sleep one night in hospital, her seemingly healthy soon-to-be husband Chris Mills slept by her side... but she woke to her worst nightmare. 

Chris died in his sleep from a burst stomach ulcer on July 18, leaving Amie with their two young children Harry, 8, and Mia, 6. 

Then, exactly four weeks after Chris' death, to the day, on August 18, the UK mum lost her battle with cancer, orphaning their young kids.

"Amie was a fighter the strongest person we’ve ever known and she fought bravely to the very end," a loved one wrote on social media at the time.

The 30-year-old spent her last week with the "people she loved most, laughing, joking and making memories with her children," they said.

"She kept her sassiness and sense of humour over the past two years and never lost hope even when the odds were stacked against her.

"The thought of her not being with us anymore is heartbreaking and has left a huge hole in our family, but we know she is reunited with the love of her life Chris, watching over their beautiful children Harry and Mia."

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Amie and Chris left behind two children aged 6 and 8. Image: Facebook

"Please keep looking over your babies"

Just a few weeks before her death, Amie was paying tribute to her "beloved" late partner who would have turned 44 shortly after he died.

Amie and Chris shared two children together, both of whom are now being cared for by their grandparents. Image: Facebook

"We love you so much it hurts not having you by my side never thought pain could hurt so much," she wrote.

"You and your Harry, he is the spitting image of you and you will always live within both your children and they will do you proud like they always have.

"You were a great daddy and please keep looking over your babies. I love you Mr Mills forever and always."

The couple's children are now being cared for by both sets of grandparents, with a Crowdfunder campaign launched by family friends to help "put a smile on the faces of two beautiful children". 

After 28 days, £51,550 ($96,391 AUD) had been raised to help give the kids a good start in life. 

"Dear Harry, Mia and grandparents, please know how much so many of us around the world care for you. I am very sorry for your loss, our thoughts are with you always. With love from Australia," one donator wrote.

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Amie tragically died four weeks, to the day, after her soon-to-be husband Chris. Image: Facebook

"I don't want to die"

After complaining of heartburn and pain in her shoulders, doctors discovered a tumour the size of a pea on Amie's colon.

Amie was then diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer on September 24, 2020, which quickly spread to her liver.

Chris died in his sleep from a burst stomach ulcer while sleeping by Amie's side in hospital. Image: Facebook

Within a week of her diagnosis, she was receiving intense chemotherapy treatment.

At the time, Amie explained to media she went "completely blank" after hearing her diagnosis.

"I was so distraught. It all happened so quickly."

Amie said she was "too young" to die and wanted to be around for her children's big life moments.

"I don't want to die. I want to be here for all their milestones. Whenever I hold my children, I feel so proud of them, I just want to cry," she said at the time.

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"Still can't get over what happened..."

Loved ones have been paying tribute to both Amie and Chris online and sharing messages of support for their two young children. 

"Still can't get over what happened here... You'll always both be missed Chris Mills and Amie Walton, life's so cruel," one person wrote.

"What a beautiful service for you today Amie. Your family did you proud and your beautiful children were absolutely amazing, so, so brave. They are little inspirations and a credit to you and Chris. Rest easy lovely, you will be missed," another wrote after Amie's funeral on September 12.

This article was published on 24 November, 2022, and has been updated on 23 May, 2023. 

Originally published as Young mum dies exactly a month after her husband passed away in his sleep