Ashleigh Simrajh’s husband posts touching tribute as 23-year-old loses battle to cancer
The devastated husband of Ashleigh Simrajh has paid tribute to his bride after she lost her cancer battle just days after their wedding.
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The heartbroken husband of a terminally ill bride has paid tribute to his new wife after she lost her battle with cancer.
Ashleigh Simrajh died from malignant melanoma just days after she married the love of her life Jason Hale in an emotional ceremony.
Her family were told this month she had just days to live after being diagnosed with melanoma last year.
Her wish to marry Jason before the disease claimed her life came true on September 5 when the brave terminally ill bride “fought like a superstar” saying “I do” in front of 50 close friends and family at Sea World Resort on the Gold Coast.
But today, Jason paid tribute to the 23-year-old after her battle with cancer came to a tragic end.
“Words cannot describe the pain I’m feeling right now, I’m absolutely devastated and my heart is completely shattered,” he wrote on Facebook Tuesday morning.
“You were so brave and strong and I know that you tried your absolute best fighting this battle, you couldn’t have tried any harder than you did.
“I’m so proud of you babe.”
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Jason described his new wife as the “most beautiful woman” and said he always held out “so much hope” that she would get better again”.
He also talked about the couple’s plans to have kids that would now never be fulfilled.
“We had so much planned out! We pictured having kids, cute kids too! (Only because of your gorgeous looks, not mine haha), travelling the world and most importantly growing old together,” he said.
“I think growing old with you was something I wanted to do the most. Not much else mattered to me than to just be there with you for my whole life.”
In the lengthy post, Jason also described feeling “completely empty inside” without Ashleigh adding it “doesn’t feel real” she was gone and that he had been “ripped apart” by her loss.
“I really don’t know what I’m going to do without you now. I’m so lost and feel completely empty inside,” he wrote.
“It doesn’t even feel real to me that you’re gone, it just feels like I’m in this horrible dream which I can’t escape.”
Last Thursday Ashleigh’s father, Tony Simrajh, had shared an update to the family’s Go Fund Me page saying his daughter was at home with a dedicated nurse.
“Ashleigh does not want to go back into hospital and we as a family are going to make sure that she remains at home surrounded by the people who love her,” he said.
“Ashleigh is still fighting so hard and she is still defying what the doctors have told her. Again this morning we got told to brace for the worst as she only had a few hours left which devastated us all, but she has rallied and is looking good again at the moment.”
“Our Ashleigh is a fighter and is fighting as hard as she can to stay here with us.”
The 23-year-old was diagnosed with cancer more than a year after she was told the lump on her leg was not suspicious.
Ashleigh was 20-years-old when she spotted a lump on her leg. When it became painful and started bleeding, she knew something wasn’t right.
Initially, she was told the lump was nothing more than a “wart” and was sent to a surgeon without taking a biopsy.
However, after she knocked it, causing it to bleed, she visited another doctor who performed a biopsy, discovering she had melanoma.
The cancer then spread to her lungs, liver and chest.
Ashleigh’s family have since launched legal action against two practitioners.
RELATED: Dad dies one day after marrying fiancee
Her father Tony Simrajh told Daily Mail Australia last week the legal case is not about money but about the doctors “owning up to their errors and taking responsibility”.
“Ash weighs 34 kilograms now and is skin and bones. She is under palliative care and struggles for every single breath,” Mr Simrajh said prior to his daughter’s death.
He described his daughter as “amazing” and someone who deserved better than what she has had to face.
“She is on a mission to get her story out there for young people to get checked but also to get another doctor to have a look at it if you are still not sure,” the heartbroken father said on a GoFundMe page set up for Ashleigh.
“That would have saved her life if she did.”
Mr Simrajh said the fight in his daughter was “amazing” and he was “so proud of her”.
Last Tuesday she was told she had one to three days left but she kept fighting to marry the love of her life.
Mr Simrajh’s said his daughter’s wedding was both the happiest and saddest day of his life.
“To see her so fragile on what should have been her happiest day was heartbreaking but yet seeing the love that was in the room for her was very inspirational,” he told the Daily Mail last week.
After hearing about Ashleigh’s story, Prime Minister Scott Morrison sent her a letter in late August thanking her for her efforts in reminding Australians about the dangers of skin cancer.
RELATED: Groom beaten to death on his wedding day
“I know these are poignant days for you: a wedding time with the family and friends and reflections on what was. Even Prime Minister’s can’t fathom why such things happen in life.
“But I do know you will be surrounded by love – and I hope the joy of your wedding day surpasses your dreams,” the Prime Minister said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had also heard about Ashleigh’s story, calling her ahead of her wedding and sending flowers.
She gave Ashleigh her mobile number to send wedding pictures and to reach out to her if she needed anything.
RELATED: Footballer crushed by wife’s cancer death
“Ashleigh’s message is making it to so many people, she is saving lives,” her father said on the GoFundMe page.
The family have received an overwhelming amount of messages of support during this tough time.
They set up the GoFundMe page to share Ashleigh’s story and spread her message.
“Please share this link not just for the donations but so everyone sees her story and help her spread the message to everyone re medical checks,” her father wrote.
“So let’s spread Ashleigh’s story it may save someone’s life.”
Originally published as Ashleigh Simrajh’s husband posts touching tribute as 23-year-old loses battle to cancer
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