A man learned he had cancer and his partner organized a wedding in just two weeks but sadly, he died three days after their wedding.
Rebecca Hoedemaker, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, found out that her 27-year-old partner Tristan had a rare and aggressive cancer.
The only thing Tristan was worried about was to leave Rebecca behind alone.
So, Rebecca decided to marry Tristan and organized a wedding in just two weeks so they could make some more memories together.
Rebecca told FABULOUS: “It was devastating to lose the amazing man I loved in such a cruel way. Tristan faced his illness with such bravery. He never really complained.”
The couple got married but unfortunately, Tristan died three days after their wedding.
Rebecca could only be his wife for 72 hours but she says she is proud and happy to have known a person like Tristan.
She said: “It wasn’t easy finding myself a widow at the age of 23, but Tristan has left me with enough happy memories to last a lifetime.”
Rebecca, who is an A&E nurse, and Tristan met on New Year’s Eve 2012. Rebecca was 18 and Tristan was 22 at the time.
Tristan used to work at the bar where they met. He would always give Rebecca a free drink whenever she would visit the bar.
In March 2013, the pair started dating.
Rebecca said: “Running together was a big part of our relationship. We completed seven half marathons and one marathon. We also did a skydive together.”
The couple also loved animals and did a lot of animal charities.
When they were dating, Tristan started training to be a veterinary nurse and volunteering with a wildlife rescue charity.
Rebecca described Tristan as a kind and caring person.
The couple moved in together after dating for four years and started saving to buy their own house.
However, just four months after moving in together, Tristan fell ill. They thought it was flu but it turned out he had cancer.
Rebecca said: “It was like he had the flu but his tummy was also swollen and distended, and he wasn’t eating. So on November 24, I took him to a walk-in medical centre.”
“The GP sent us away with pain relief but I didn’t feel satisfied, and took Tristan A&E at the hospital where I was working.”
Tristan’s health deteriorated and he was finally told he had cancer and was admitted to the Royal Marsden, South London.
When the doctors asked him for his last wish, he said he’d just been waiting for their five year anniversary to propose.
Tristan then proposed Rebecca and asked her to marry him.
Rebecca organized a wedding in just two weeks with the help of her mother and Tristan’s sisters Angelique and Dominique.
Rebecca said: “I wanted to marry Tristan, but didn’t want it to be under these circumstances.”
Tristan was then moved to St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Eastbourne and proposed Rebecca on December 6.
On December 8, 2017, the couple got married in front of 150 guests.
Rebecca said: “We married on a Friday and on the following Saturday and Sunday, Tristan seemed to really perk up. We sat looking at the wedding photos and he was in great spirits.”
However, on Monday he passed away just three days after their wedding.
Tristan left a letter for Rebecca telling her to carry on and make the most of her life. He also asked her to save as many animals as she can for him.
Rebecca has now set up a charity – Tristan’s Pawprints – that raises money for animal charities.
She said: “Starting the charity has helped me to keep his name alive and move forward. He was crazy about all animals – pets and wildlife. It’s given me something positive to focus on.”
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