Why AFL star’s wife kept cancer diagnosis a secret on wedding day

The wife of AFL star Jamie Cripps has revealed why she didn’t want people to know about her shock cancer diagnosis on the day she tied the knot.

The wife of AFL star Jamie Crips has opened up on her shock cancer diagnosis and revealed why the couple decided to keep it a secret until after their wedding day.

Liv married West Coast Eagles player Jamie in October but they only told a few close confidantes she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

She said in an interview with Perth Now on the weekend she didn’t want people feeling sorry for her on what promised to be one of the happiest days of her life — so Liv kept her illness a secret from almost everybody.

“I didn’t want everyone at the wedding to be all, ‘Oh, poor Liv, I’m so sorry’,” she said.

Liv and Jamie — who have one-year-old son Reif together — were reeling when they received the bad news

“At the age of 26, (cancer) is just the furthest thing from your mind,” Liv said. “It was the last thing I was expecting.

“Jamie went grey, I was in shock. It was such an emotional time.”

Liv underwent an operation less than a week after her picturesque marriage in Wilyabrup, on the south-west coast of Western Australia, about a three-hour drive from Perth.

The 26-year-old went public with her cancer diagnosis when she posted a picture of herself in hospital just six days after tying the knot. The model said she was sharing her journey to encourage others to get checked.

“Cancer is not a word you’d expect to hear at age 26, but a few weeks ago I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer,” Liv wrote on Instagram in late October.

“So thankful to be surrounded by so many amazing friends and family who have shown so much love and support.

“Sharing my story to help encourage others to get those lumps check because you can never be too sure.”

Her post was flooded with messages of support from well-wishers, including her husband’s football teammates.

Liv, who previously modelled under the name Liv Stanley, also received messages from former Miss Universe Australia winner Olivia Molly Rogers and opera singer Amy Manford.