Woman, 69, with colon cancer marries her partner of 19 years in heartbreaking hospice ceremony
A 69-year-old woman with colon cancer passed away shortly after marrying her partner of 19 years in a heartbreaking hospice ceremony.
Becky Mason, from Oklahoma City, was diagnosed with colon cancer three years ago but was told last week that her kidneys had ‘completely shut down.’
The grandmother was given just 24 to 72 hours to live – and so she and partner George Kelley, 72, decided to tie the knot.
Becky sadly passed away a short time later with her family saying she died ‘surrounded by love and peace.’
Becky Mason, from Oklahoma City, passed away shortly after marrying her partner of 19 years in heartbreaking hospice ceremony
The couple met on a dance floor nearly two decades ago before having their first date at Dennys
Becky and George met on a dance floor nearly two decades ago before having their first date at Dennys.
The couple, who shared ‘a love of Godzilla, crafting and experiencing life,’ have five children and 11 grandchildren between them.
Speaking to ABC affiliate KOCO-TV shortly before she died, George said: ‘One thing led to another, and 19 years later, we’re here. We’re getting married.’
He continued: ‘I realized that she’s almost to the end, and I try to be as strong as I can for her even though it’s not easy.
‘If I could take the cancer myself and have the cancer so she could continue to live, then I would. Gladly.
‘I’ve been her caregiver and her friend and her lover, and I’ll continue to be all of those things until she passes.’
The couple wed during a ceremony on Thursday held at Becky’s hospice as she lay in bed.
Her family initially set up a GoFundMe page, aimed at raising $3,000, to cover ‘the costs of Becky’s end of life care and help ease the transition into his next stage of life.’
The couple, who shared ‘a love of Godzilla, crafting and experiencing life,’ have five children and 11 grandchildren between them
George Kelley, 72, said: ‘I realized that she’s almost to the end, and I try to be as strong as I can for her even though it’s not easy’
But in a heartbreaking update Becky’s loved ones shared that she had since died.
‘It is with great sadness as well as thankfulness that we announce Becky passed yesterday, Sunday July 9th around 3 pm.
‘She was surrounded by love and peace,’ it read.
‘Thank you for all of your love and continued support, we sincerely appreciate it,’ the family added.
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is a cancer of the large intestine (the colon).
Usually, it starts with polyps, which are small clumps of cells.
Gastroenterologists can see them in a colonoscopy because they are raised off the surface of the colon like a mole.
Symptoms include:
- Blood in your stool or rectal bleeding
- Stomach cramps
- Persistent gas
- Never feeling like you have emptied your bowels
- Exhaustion
- Weight loss
- Change in bowel habits that persists for more than a month
ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue82erqxnmaOxqq2MoaCco6NignV5zJqpq6GVqHqpsdFmp5qqpKOys3nOn2Rrbl2usqK%2B0mabmq6ZmXqnuMinq2avn6SxcA%3D%3D