Mum marries husband on his deathbed just four days before he passes away

A MUM has spoken of her grief as she said goodbye to her dying husband just four days after they tied the knot.

A MUM has spoken of her grief as she said goodbye to her dying husband just four days after they tied the knot.

Marcus Peers, aged just 24, died of cancer leaving behind new wife Ashlee, also 24, and their one-year-old daughter, Faith.

‘I’VE GOT TO GO NOW’: MY GROOM’S LAST WORDS AFTER DEATHBED WEDDING. Picture: Medavia Wedding.jpg

The couple celebrated their wedding, their daughter’s first birthday and an early family Christmas from his hospital bed in the week leading up to his death, before he slipped away saying with his last words: “I’ve got to go now. I love you”.

Heartbroken Ashlee said: “I was immediately smitten when I met Marcus in February 2012.

“I was new to the area and asked him for directions. He made sure I caught the right bus home and when he asked me to text him to let him know I’d got back safely, we quickly became inseparable.”

‘I’VE GOT TO GO NOW’: MY GROOM’S LAST WORDS AFTER DEATHBED WEDDING. Picture: Medavia Ashlee and Marcus 1.jpg

They moved in together a year later in Marcus’ home town of Plymouth, Devon and in March 2014 Ashlee found out she was pregnant.

She added: “I’d suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage three months before so we were over the moon.

“Marcus was so happy, he cried. He couldn’t wait to be a dad and insisted on coming with me to every scan and appointment. He was thrilled when we found out we were expecting a baby girl.”

But in September 2014, Marcus noticed a growing lump on his neck.

Ashlee said: “Doctors told us it was just an abscess so we put any worries aside and our baby girl, Faith, was born two months later, in November,’ said Ashlee.

But the lump continued to get bigger, so Marcus went back to the doctor. In April, they got the news they had been dreading that Marcus had cancer.

‘I’VE GOT TO GO NOW’: MY GROOM’S LAST WORDS AFTER DEATHBED WEDDING. Picture: Medavia Marcus and Faith 4.jpg

Grieving wife Ashlee added: “I was horrified when doctors gently explained that he could have as little as three years to live.

“My first thought was for Faith, she wasn’t even six months old. She needed her daddy. The pair of them were like two peas in a pod. He doted on Faith and she adored him in return.

“My heart broke when she uttered her first word while Marcus was in hospital: ‘Dada’.

“Marcus’s love for us made him determined to fight. He started treatment straight away and tried to remain positive, but he was fighting a losing battle. More tumours were appearing all over his body and in time, Marcus became weaker and weaker.”

‘I’VE GOT TO GO NOW’: MY GROOM’S LAST WORDS AFTER DEATHBED WEDDING. Picture: Medavia Family pic 2.jpg

But despite medics initially giving him three more years to live, Marcus collapsed at home in July and was rushed to hospital where he was told he had just weeks to live.

Ashlee said: “My world crumbled in that moment. Faith wasn’t even a year old. Marcus would never walk her up the aisle or celebrate her graduation. Our family was being robbed of so many happy memories.”

The family brought forward Faith’s first birthday celebrations to mark the occasion at Marcus’ bedside and also enjoyed an early Christmas together.

And when Marcus told Ashlee that he wanted to marry her before he died, she was determined to make this final wish come true.

She said: “Within just a week we organised a wedding and in August we tied the knot at his bedside.

‘I’VE GOT TO GO NOW’: MY GROOM’S LAST WORDS AFTER DEATHBED WEDDING. Picture: Medavia Marcus and Faith 1.jpg

“Marcus struggled for breath but he repeated all his vows and it was a bittersweet moment as we were pronounced man and wife.

“A few days later, the registrar returned for a blessing, when I wore a beautiful dress and Faith watched her mummy and daddy seal their love.”

But just four days later, Marcus passed away on August 23 2015.

Ashlee added: “Marcus looked at me and said: ‘I’ve got to go now. I love you.’

“I can barely believe he’s gone. but Marcus lives on in Faith. She has a picture of her daddy which she hugs and kisses and I’ll never let her forget just how much he loved her.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun.

Originally published as Mum marries husband on his deathbed just four days before he passes away