A TERMINALLY ill man has married his partner of six years after friends and family organised their wedding following his devastating diagnosis.
Paul Kenny was told in May that his bowel cancer had spread to his lungs and liver and there was nothing doctors could do to save his life.
He was given just 18 months to live.
He and partner Jessica Porter had always planned to get married but had not been able to afford it.
But thanks to the generosity of friends and family, the couple tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Wombwell and also had their children Isaac, five, Ivy, three, and Joshua one, christened.
Paul, 35, of Mellor Road, Wombwell, said: “It was amazing. We want to say a big thank you to everyone that has helped us, we’ve been blown away by the amount of support from family, friends, doctors and nurses.
“And a big thank you to Jess, who has been amazing with me and is always asking me if I’m OK.
“We’ve got things to put in the kids memory boxes, Jess bought us pocket watches which had been engraved and Isaac has one, which is something he can keep, and Ivy, who was a flowergirl, has her dress.”
Paul has had a 12-week cycle of chemotherapy and said tests had revealed tumours in his lungs, bowel and liver, and one in his pelvis which he didn’t know about, had either shrunk or disappeared.
He added: “With the way I’m going, it has taken a bit of pressure off. They said I had 18 months and we were getting a bit worried. But with the way I’m going, we’re not too worried.”
Paul is due to start his next round of chemotherapy at Weston Park Cancer Hospital.
He said: “I feel fine, I still get tired but that’s normal because of the chemotherapy.
“It was really good news (about the tumours shrinking). I rang my mum and dad and that was the first time I have cried since January.
“It was a big relief and I’m really pleased.”
Paul has had to give up his job as a chef, but still gets some enjoyment from riding his mountain bike with a friend.
His new wife Jessica, 28, said their wedding day went without a hitch.
She said: “I wasn’t nervous until I got outside the church.
“Paul went to the pub and had a couple of drinks to calm his nerves.
“I cried walking down the aisle but when I got to Paul it was like being in a little bubble. I had been worried about everyone’s eyes being on me but when I got down there it didn’t matter, it was just us two.
“And we had the children christened, they were fantastic. I still feel a bit high from it all, we can’t believe it has happened.”
