Woman with terminal cancer marries partner in hospital

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 08:27 · Archive

A 68-year-old woman with advanced liver cancer married her 15-year-old partner in her hospital room.

Maggie Heginbothom, 68, married her partner of 15 years, Mark, in her hospital room at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor on Monday. She has advanced liver cancer and is receiving palliative care at the hospital. Mark proposed at her bedside on Friday, and hospital staff organised the wedding ceremony over the weekend.

Heginbothom, a former clinical scientist with Public Health Wales originally from the Vale of Glamorgan, had been admitted to hospital nearly three weeks earlier after becoming unwell while riding one of her horses. Investigations and scans later confirmed her diagnosis.

Staff on Tegid Ward arranged the ceremony in two days, using a social media group to coordinate efforts. Several colleagues gave up their own time. They decorated the room with white sheets and fairy lights, arranged flowers, decorations, food and cake, and arranged entertainment including a harpist.

Heginbothom's two horses, Ozzy and Quiosque, were brought to the hospital by Pen Llŷn Stud and Riding School, where she had ridden and competed for many years. She described the day as 'so beautiful' and said she had never thought it would be possible.

Ward manager Rachel Parry said the team were determined to make the day special. She said: 'Once we knew the registrar was available, it was all systems go. We only had the weekend to organise everything, but everyone immediately got involved and wanted to do their bit.'

How it is being reported

• Terminally ill woman marries partner in magical ceremony at Ysbyty GwyneddMaggie Heginbothom, 68, is receiving palliative care at the Bangor based hospital after being diagnosed with advanced liver cancer.North Wales Chronicle · 14 Nov, 08:00
• Terminally ill woman marries partner in magical ceremony at Ysbyty GwyneddMaggie Heginbothom, 68, is receiving palliative care at the Bangor based hospital after being diagnosed with advanced liver cancer.North Wales Pioneer · 14 Nov, 08:00
• Woman with terminal cancer gets dream wedding on hospital wardMaggie Heginbothom thanks staff after "dream" ceremony is arranged two days after her partner proposed.BBC North West Wales · 13 Nov, 22:55

In this story: Maggie Heginbothom · Mark · Ysbyty Gwynedd · Bangor · Rachel Parry · Public Health Wales · Vale of Glamorgan · Pen Llŷn Stud and Riding School

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log