Terminally ill mum helps young daughters pick wedding dresses

Sisters Imogen, 12 and Madeline, eight are expected to be orphans within the next 12 months as both of their parents are terminally ill - so they brought one of the most important moments of their lives forward a little in order to spend it together.

The girls’ mother, Dawn is just 34, but has less than a year to live after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She wants to spend the milestone moments with her daughters, but knows that she won’t be around for them in future. So she took matters into her own hands, and helped her girls pick their future prom and wedding dresses.

Dawn told Wales News Service: “I know neither of us will ever see our beautiful daughters grow up, so I wanted to create lovely memories of all the things I will miss out on with them.

“I spent a ‘memory day’ with each of them separately where they got to choose the wedding dress they would love, and their prom dresses."

Heartbreakingly, Imogen and Madeline’s father is likely to pass away soon, too. He was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease eight years ago, which affects his movement, judgement and behaviour.  

Dawn with ex husband Ian. 

“Their father Ian is very, very ill. The time will come very soon when he can’t recognise our daughters,” Dawn explained.

“He’s too poorly to take part in any of the fundraising now that he is in the advanced stages.

“We have been given about the same life expectancy which is really anything from a few months to a year. I’m looking at about 11 months.”

Dawn and Ian eventually divorced. Dawn met her new partner, Steve, shortly before her diagnosis - the couple have since married, and Imogen and Madeline’s parents will sign over guardianship to Steve so that he can become their legal guardian.

Dawn said, “Cancer has stolen so much from me and my family, but I am determined to fight for as long as I can.”