NEWLYWEDS' AGONY
Groom’s terminally ill mum dies just 24 hours before wedding brought forward so she could see them marry
by Claudia Aoraha · The SunA GROOM'S terminally ill mum died just 24 hours before the wedding they brought forward so she could see them marry.
Jason Stapes and Macey Jones from Pillgwenlly, Newport, frantically rearranged their nuptial after mum Rosemary was diagnosed with cancer.
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After doctors gave the gran just weeks to live they arranged a service in the front room of Jason’s brother's home, where Rosemary lived as she was too frail to travel.
The pair were due to exchange vows earlier yesterday.
But on Sunday night she slipped away aged 67, leaving them devastated.
Yesterday Jason, 45, said: “At the moment we feel so numb. Mum had fought so hard and for so long.
“We know she was hanging on to try and be there to see us get married.
"Jason and I had dearly wished she could so that some of her final memories would have been happy ones.
Rose - who had brain cancer, lung cancer, stage five kidney disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - was told by doctors in May she only had weeks to live.
NEWLYWEDS' AGONY
Prompted into action, Jason and Macey, 33, from Pillgwenlly, Newport, rearranged their plans.
Jason said: “Mum was too frail to go anywhere so Macey came up with the idea of having our own little ceremony for her in the house she was staying.
“Mum was really excited but, in the end, she just couldn’t hold on. We are totally heartbroken because she was such a massive part of our lives.”
Jason said they have now shelved plans for the wedding as they are too devastated to go through with it.
“It will be too hard,” he said.
“We need to get over this and will then get married next year.
"Afterwards we will raise a glass to mum and try to remember the good times. I know she will be looking over us.”
The couple have been inundated with messages on Facebook in recent days from friends and family.
“People have been so kind,” Macey said. “Now the hardest thing will be having to say goodbye.”