A Final Promise: Wedding Day Turns to Farewell
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a mother-of-five realised her dream of marrying her long-term partner only to lose her life to cancer mere hours after exchanging vows. Jade Tabra, 37, and Adam Kemp, 42, celebrated their love in an intimate ceremony at their Milton Keynes home on November 3, surrounded by close family and friends.
The couple, who had been together for 19 years, decided to accelerate their wedding plans after receiving devastating news in September that Jade's stomach cancer had progressed aggressively, leaving her with just three months to live. Their original plan had been to marry on November 21, 2026 - their 20th anniversary - but time was not on their side.
A Race Against Time
Jade's health struggles began during her final pregnancy, when she experienced stomach pains and weight loss that doctors initially attributed to the physical strain of carrying a child. However, after giving birth to her son in February 2023, the symptoms persisted, leading to medical tests that revealed Stage 2 stomach cancer.
The cancer proved exceptionally aggressive, advancing to Stage 4 within weeks while Jade awaited treatment. "It floored her," said Adam, who works at Aldi. "It made her so ill and so sick, but she was so brave and just kept going, fighting the cancer all the way. And all the time being an amazing partner and amazing mother."
Despite a brief period of stability in May that allowed Jade to pause treatment, her condition deteriorated rapidly by September. Tests confirmed the cancer had spread to her womb and ovaries, and with no further treatment options available, the couple received the crushing prognosis.
A Wedding Filled With Love and Tears
Friends and hospice staff rallied to organise the wedding at remarkable speed, arranging the paperwork, registrar, cake and buffet. The ceremony took place at the couple's home at 2pm, with Jade being wheeled down the hallway for the service.
"I knelt down beside her during the ceremony so we could be on the same level," Adam recalled. "We said 'I do' and she reached up, brushed my tears away and said 'Don't cry, I love you'. Everyone there was in floods of tears and said they have never seen a wedding filled with so much love."
In a poignant touch, Jade fulfilled her dream of being given away by Adam's father and wore a bridesmaid dress from his wedding, which friends had quickly altered to fit her diminished frame.
Later that evening, as Adam changed Jade into her pyjamas after guests had departed, her breathing changed. Hospice staff confirmed the end was near. At 10:45pm, just hours after becoming husband and wife, Jade died in Adam's arms.
"She looked me in the eye and said she was so glad to be Mrs Kemp and have our family," Adam shared. "Then her head slumped and I knew her soul had left. She had gone. We stayed there, our heads touching and I said: 'I love you, baby. It's okay, you can go now no more pain.'"
Legacy of Love and Support
Despite his profound grief, Adam finds comfort in their perfect wedding day. "I got to finally marry the most beautiful woman in the world. I love you forever and always, Jade Louise Kemp," he said.
Friends have since increased the target on Jade's original fundraising page to £4,000 to help the family through the difficult months ahead and contribute to funeral costs. Approximately £2,000 has been raised so far.
Adam has given up his job to care for their five children, facing the future without his soulmate but cherishing their final hours as husband and wife in the home they shared.
