A bride who lost a two year battle with cancer has shared a heartbreaking Facebook message from beyond the grave with her loved ones and husband she wed on her deathbed.
Body building queen Gemma Sisson, 39, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, wrote how she hopes her death will serve as a warning to other sufferers to get themselves checked out even if they think they have beaten cancer.
She married her life partner Ricky Moore four days after being admitted to the hospice where she spent her last weeks.
She died peacefully in her new husband’s arms on Wednesday – four days after the couple shared a ‘two month anniversary’ takeaway at the hospice from one of Gemma’s favourite restaurants.
Body building queen Gemma Sisson, 39, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, wrote how she hopes her death will serve as a warning to other sufferers to get themselves checked out even if they think they have beaten cancer.
Gym bunny Gemma and personal trainer and gym boss Ricky had been together for 16 happy years and attended body building events around the world.
While battling her illness she had attracted thousands of signatures for a petition calling for changes in the law to protect sufferers.
She feared too many GPs were giving patients the ‘all clear’ when they should be referring them for more scans to check that the disease was not creeping back.
Gemma herself was first diagnosed in April 2018 when she underwent weeks of gruelling radiotherapy and a year of aftercare.
It looked as if Gemma, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, had beaten the disease.
But tragically in August 2019 she was diagnosed with secondary cancer.
She married her life partner Ricky Moore (pictured together) four days after being admitted to the hospice where she spent her last weeks
She had a 10 hour operation to try and repair her spine where the cancer had taken hold.
She had multiple treatments and scans until the end of 2019.
In February 2020, a month after her 39th birthday, she was given the devastating news she had just months to live.
The cancer was too aggressive to be treated, and as it got worse Gemma was moved to the Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in Leeds on April 13.
On admission, she told she had seven days to live, although she battled on for weeks.
Her family arranged for her to get married within four days of her being admitted to the hospice.
Gemma, pictured competing in a bikini fitness competition, died peacefully in her new husband’s arms on Wednesday
Just hours after death on Wednesday afternoon, her friends and family were stunned when a defiant post appeared on her social media account.
It said: ‘If this is being posted it means I’ve finally died after weeks of clinging on far too long.
‘Although I’ll be heartbroken to leave behind all my loved ones I’ll be so glad to get away from what this bastard disease has left me as.
‘I really hope that by sharing my cancer story and petitioning for secondary cancers scans to be made mandatory I’ve made a positive impact, and even if only 1 person gets some help from this then I will feel like I have accomplished something good.
‘I really can’t thank Rick enough who has been by side all the way and given me an amazing amount of love and support throughout this horrific time. *
‘I want all my loved ones to know that the pain and suffering has now stopped and I am now finally at peace. *
‘I am also grateful for all the support I have received from all of my followers on social media.
‘If anyone is going to take anything from this, it is that life is short and that we all think these sort of things will never happen to us.
‘Well I thought that, and let me tell you now, this could happen to anyone of you reading this.
‘So live your life to the fullest, dont take anything or anyone for granted because non of us really know what is around the corner.
‘But I am definitely glad that my time is now up, see you on the flip side mother f-ckers!’
Ricky replied: RIP to my Angel Mrs Bear
‘You died at 1.15PM today just as you had wished, which was to go peacefully in my arms, just the 2 of us with nobody else around.
You are now finally at peace Gemma. My best friend
*My wife
*My family
*My lover
*My confidant
*My business advisor
‘You were everything I ever needed or wanted all wrapped up in to 1 amazing human being.
‘You have been forever by my side since we met on 30/8/2004!
’16 years together my loved 1.
And I will carry on loving you forever till the day I die.
‘A massive part of me is now broken that can never be repaired but I have made you a promise, which is that I am going to live every single minute of the rest of my life making you f***ing proud!!
‘And I know you’re going to be watching over my every move to make sure that I keep my promise!
‘I look forward to seeing you on the other side soon my princess, and you best have that strawberry Daiquiri ready for me.
‘Until we meet again my beautiful wife Mrs Gemma Sisson-Moore.