October 19th 2024.
Just nine weeks after our idyllic weekend on the beach in Aldeburgh, my dear wife, Sam, peacefully passed away at the young age of 37. As we strolled hand in hand along the pebbled shore, everything felt pleasantly ordinary. We didn't dwell on her hospital appointments or treatments anymore. Instead, it was as if we could savor the simple joys in life once again.
It was late March in 2024, and we were exploring the beautiful Suffolk coast with our one-year-old son, Logan, and our two energetic dogs. Sam even indulged in a pint of her favorite IPA, and even when we got caught in a sudden hailstorm, it did little to dampen our spirits. Yes, everything felt normal. Little did we know that it would be our last weekend together.
Sam had been battling cholangiocarcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer, a relatively unknown form of primary liver cancer with a high mortality rate. In 2019 alone, it claimed the lives of 2,754 people in England. I can still remember the moment I was captivated by her beauty and quick wit. Despite the common misconception that it primarily affects the elderly, we were shocked to discover that it is increasingly affecting younger individuals. Every day, AMMF, the only charity in the UK dedicated to this cancer, supports more and more patients in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, whose lives are tragically cut short by this disease. My beloved Sam was one of them.
It felt like we had always known each other, our lives fitting together perfectly. In reality, we didn't meet until late 2016, when Sam was working at Dartford Cricket Club. I was immediately drawn to her beauty and sharp mind. But more than anything, it was her warmth, genuine care for others, and that infectious smile that had me falling for her. Naturally, I found myself visiting the clubhouse more often in the following months, and after some flirty texts and a few pints, we went on our first date. We spent the night laughing and dancing at a local nightclub, and despite having to pick Sam up from the flowerbeds outside her hotel due to one too many shots, it only solidified my feelings for her. I adored her fun and lively personality. Our first day date, a walk with her beloved labradoodle, Dexter, from Herne Bay to Whitstable, was pure bliss. We talked and laughed for hours, no fancy restaurants or pubs, just the two of us and the dog. I knew then that I was head over heels in love with Sam.
Soon after, I was warmly invited to her family's Christmas celebration, and we went on holidays to North Wales, the Lake District, Devon, and Gran Canaria. We were both deliriously happy and deeply in love. In February 2019, during a family vacation in Jamaica, I proposed to Sam, and her beaming smile as she said yes is a moment I will never forget. A few months later, we moved into our family home in New Ash Green, a place where Sam, her children Ella and Dylan, and I could call our own. After a couple of postponements due to the pandemic, we finally tied the knot in September 2021. Sam looked absolutely breathtaking, and I couldn't help but shed tears of joy as she walked down the aisle. It was only a matter of time before our family was complete. Our little Logan arrived in December 2022, bringing us all immense happiness. We had everything we ever wanted; our lives were overflowing with love, laughter, and joy.
That's what makes it so difficult to make sense of what came next. It all happened so fast. Towards the end of last year, Sam started experiencing stomach pains, which she initially thought was a pulled muscle. She also had other symptoms that we chalked up to her recent pregnancy, such as fatigue, bloating, nausea, and feeling breathless. But something didn't feel right, and in September 2023, she consulted a doctor. At first, they thought it was long Covid, then gallstones, then costochondritis, but all the diagnoses were wrong. Finally, the head GP at our local clinic ordered further tests, and in December 2023, we got the devastating news. Sam had cancer, a tumor on her liver that was likely cholangiocarcinoma. We waited anxiously for the results of a PET scan, hoping that surgery would be an option. But during the Christmas period and Logan's first birthday, we received the heartbreaking prognosis that the tumor was inoperable, and Sam had 12-18 months at best.
The news shattered me. I can only imagine how Sam must have felt, but she continued to be her usual positive self, putting everyone else before herself. She was a true fighter until the very end.
It was a beautiful day when my wife, Sam, and I took a leisurely stroll along the pebbled beach in Aldeburgh. The sun was shining and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing. As we walked hand in hand, everything felt surprisingly normal. We didn't talk about hospital appointments or treatments, instead, we just enjoyed the simple things in life.
It was March 2024 and we were exploring the Suffolk coast with our one-year-old son, Logan, and our two energetic dogs. Sam even indulged in her favorite IPA and we laughed as we got caught in a sudden hailstorm. Despite the unexpected weather, our mood remained unchanged. It was a perfect weekend, and little did we know it would be our last one together.
Just nine weeks later, my beloved wife passed away peacefully at the young age of 37. Sam had been battling cholangiocarcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer, which has one of the worst survival rates of any cancer. In 2019 alone, it claimed the lives of 2,754 people in England. It was a little-known primary liver cancer, but it had taken my wife from me.
I can still remember the first time I saw Sam. It was as if time stood still and I was instantly captivated by her beauty and quick-witted intelligence. Despite the common misconception that this disease only affects the elderly, it is now affecting more and more younger people. Every day, AMMF – the UK's only charity dedicated to cholangiocarcinoma – supports patients in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, whose lives are being cut short by this devastating disease.
Sam and I met in late 2016 when she was working behind the bar at Dartford Cricket Club. We flirted over text and shared our first date laughing and dancing at a local nightclub. I'll never forget having to pick Sam up from the flowerbeds outside her hotel after one too many shots. It only made me fall even more in love with her fun and vivacious personality.
We spent our first day date walking along the beach with her beloved labradoodle, Dexter. It was just the two of us, chatting and laughing, and it was perfect. I knew in that moment that I had fallen madly in love with Sam. We soon became inseparable, and our love only grew stronger. We even went on holidays together, and in February 2019, while on a family trip to Jamaica, I proposed to Sam. She said yes with the biggest smile I had ever seen.
We moved into our family home a few months later, and after a couple of postponements due to Covid, we finally got married in September 2021. Sam looked absolutely stunning, and I couldn't help but cry tears of happiness as she walked down the aisle. Our family felt complete when our son, Logan, was born in December 2022. He brought us all instant joy, and our life was filled with love, laughter, and happiness.
But then, everything changed. Towards the end of last year, Sam began experiencing stomach pains, which she initially thought were just a pulled muscle. She also had other symptoms that could be explained away by her recent pregnancy. However, after a visit to the doctor, we were given the devastating news that Sam had cancer.
We went through a series of tests, and in December 2023, we received the heartbreaking diagnosis – an inoperable tumor on her liver. The news shattered me, but Sam remained positive and put everyone else's needs before her own. Despite her illness, she continued to be a loving wife and mother.
In the months that followed, we cherished every moment we had together as a family. But unfortunately, Sam's condition deteriorated, and she passed away just nine weeks after her diagnosis. My heart was broken, and I struggled to make sense of it all. I will always miss my darling wife, but I am grateful for the time we had together and the memories we made. She will forever be in my heart.
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