A couple planned their wedding in four weeks after the bride was diagnosed with a stage four brain tumor.
Vicky Payne’s voice began to slur and the 31-year-old had two seizures in five minutes, prompting now-husband Kyle, 32, to drive her to hospital.
Tests confirmed she had a cancerous brain tumor and they decided to finally get married after a ten-year-long engagement.
They booked the entire do in four weeks – while Vicky underwent an awake craniotomy to remove part of the golf ball sized tumor.
And the pair tied the knot just four weeks after she started treatment.
Kyle, a care manager, from Andover, Hampshire, said: “With everything Vicky was going through we decided to get married on her third week of chemo.
“It gave her something to look forward to while she was having these intensive treatments.
“Instead of feeling negative, it perked her up.
“The wedding was long overdue. We should have done it years ago, but the day itself was so magical – it was a special day.”
Vicky said: “I found the day really, really enjoyable.
“We had lost of friends come over, we had a lovely reception in the afternoon with our friends and family.
“It was beautiful, it was a lovely sunny day – it was really warm.”
Kyle and Vicky were heading to Scotland for a family holiday with their two children, Casper, 10, and Marley, seven.
She had two seizures and went to A&E at Darlington Memorial Hospital.
Kyle said: “She started to have a word-finding difficulty, slurred speech and a funny taste in her mouth.
“We had no idea what was happening.”
Four hours later, the test results confirmed Vicky had a brain tumor – but doctors thought it was benign.
Kyle and Vicky were told to abandon the holiday and go home to see neurologists at Southampton General Hospital.
While they were at Southampton General, Vicky and Kyle were told the tumor was malignant – cancerous.
Kyle said: “Vicky broke down in tears. She is a mum first and foremost and she was thinking of her kids.
“I struggled. I had to stop on the drive home as I broke down in tears.
“At that moment, your future is crushed.”
On March 20, 2024, Vicky had an awake craniotomy.
Kyle said: “The tumor was on her frontal lobe; they said it was bigger than a golf ball.
“Due to the location of the tumor, Vicky had to stay awake so that surgeons could make sure Vicky didn’t lose any mobility.
“They were asking her to read the alphabet and lift her arms.”
Vicky was diagnosed with grade 4 astrocytoma with IDH-mutant – the most aggressive and most common type of brain cancer.
Kyle said: “Her prognosis is 12 months plus, and it is something that Vicky struggles with.
“For me, I know that Vicky might not be here in five to 10 years and I am going to have to bring the kids up which is scary.
“Vicky has said that all she wants to do is watch the kids go through school and watch them grow up.
“I hope she gets that time but for now we are trying to make as many mentions as possible.”
Kyle and Vicky have been engaged since 2014 but don’t have a date in their diary.
They married at their local registry office in Basingstoke on May 10, surrounded by 50 of their closest family and friends.
Kyle said: “Originally, we intended to have a wedding with the two of us and two witnesses but we decided to have 50 people.
“The day went really well, considering it was planned in four weeks.
“It was a perfect day. At night the northern lights were visible and for us that was a sign.”
Vicky has completed six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is waiting for MRI results to see what the next steps of her treatment will be.
Catherine Fraher, director of services and digital health at The Brain Tumour Charity, said: “We’re really grateful to everyone who shares their – often heartbreaking – story to raise awareness of brain tumors.
“We know that every family deals with a brain tumor diagnosis and its aftermath in their own unique way.
“That’s why The Brain Tumour Charity offers support to anyone who needs it. It’s so important for them to know that they are not alone.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
