A man believed he was suffering from indigestion before being told he had up to 12 months to live.
Adrian Jellicoe from Southport was originally told he was suffering from indigestion in 2019 after he had problems swallowing. It wasn't until his wife was adamant it was more serious the doctor then sent him for tests.
Following the tests, Adrian and his wife, Sharon, went to an appointment on New Year's Eve where they found out the 63-year-old tiler had cancer of the oesophagus.
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After his diagnosis, the engaged couple brought forward their wedding to March 2020 before jetting off to Tenerife for their honeymoon which was cut short to four days due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sharon, 47, told the ECHO: "They did some blood tests for him and they showed some sort of abnormality. They then sent him for some other tests at the hospital and it was another three or four weeks later before he was diagnosed. He had really started to struggle by then.
"He was eating mainly porridge and soft food. Before he got the results they put a tube up his nose and into his throat to get some protein and vitamins inside him which he was doing okay with.
"He was doing okay, getting on with his life, we still went to our local, The Victoria in Southport, to see our friends. If anyone asked what was wrong with him he would tell them he was struggling to eat.
"We went on New Year's Eve and found out he had 12 months to live. The doctor was surprised he was still able to walk. He said with the cancer that he had in his oesophagus he shouldn't be walking but he was a strong-minded man.
"That was a big shock. We decided to set a date with the help of the consultant who gave us a letter for the registrar to try and move the date forward but obviously it was only a guided amount of time that he had left, although he did look strong then. We got married in March and he passed away in September.
"We managed to go on a honeymoon to Tenerife but then lockdown came and we had to come home after four days. He thought I was joking at first but I explained to him Jet2 had phoned me to say we were going home."
Almost 18 months since her husband's death, Sharon has found that cycling was the way she could focus her mind and get out the house now that she lived alone.
During Blackpool illuminations, the cash collector decided to decorate her bike with bright lights and hasn't taken them off since, often having people waving at her during her evening rides across Southport Promenade.
She said: "With lockdown, covid and everything else I thought I'd buy a bike. I've suffered from anxiety for the last four years and with living alone you start getting a bit down so I got a bike and started cycling.
"I go around listening to my music and go with my friend sometimes. The lights itself came about when we did Blackpool Illuminations."
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