A “beautiful” mum to two young girls tragically died the day after her wedding. The special day was 34-year-old Jess Makwana’s “final wish” after her rare cancer returned “with a vengeance”.
The mum from Birmingham had been with her partner for 12 years, and they shared two daughters, aged six and seven. Both were at the wedding, which took place in Jess’s hospice and was organised by her best friend and sister.
Jess’s close friend Liz Barber told BirminghamLive that Jess was determined to marry her “true love”, having battled against a form of sarcoma cancer for over two years. Thankfully, her wish could be granted – and was made possible with the help of thousands who chipped in after seeing an online post.
Liz explained “everything for the wedding was donated by the community following a post on Facebook”, including the flowers, cakes, decorations, balloons, a photographer – and even Jess’s dress. Marie Curie West Midlands shared the post, which led to a further 10,700 shares – “without this, Jess’s dying wish would not have been possible”.
Liz and a few others managed to organise the wedding at Jess’s hospice in less than 48 hours. These included Jess’s sister – also called Liz – and other friends Paula Litwinko and Nicola Pellegrini-Homer.
The room was packed full of amazing decorations and Jess wore a beautiful dress. She managed to marry her partner, surrounded by her loved ones, before passing away the next morning.
Liz explained that Jess’s cancer diagnosis came in November 2021, and that she started aggressive chemotherapy in January 2022, on her birthday. Radiotherapy soon began in March, and Jess had to have her leg amputated to remove the tumour in June 2022, followed by “three more rounds of aggressive chemotherapy”.
For the next year or so, Jess regained independence with her new prosthetic leg, leaving the house alone in May 2023.
But Liz continued: “In August 2023 the cancer had returned with a vengeance. After a recent CT scan the cancer had spread in her lungs and she was given a short time to live. The family went on holiday together in the last week of August to make precious memories.
“Jess started new aggressive chemotherapy at the end of September. After this treatment Jess fell very ill with multiple emergency visits to A&E, only returning home for a week before being admitted to QE, and then later being moved to Solihull hospice.
“Jess put everyone before herself, she was always thinking of others. She was the most positive person we knew and had a great sense of humour, even until her last hours she was making us smile.
“We are all heartbroken by Jess’s passing and the wedding was a day of creating precious memories which we will cherish forever.”
A fundraiser set up to support Jess’s family stood at £4,200 on November 20, with a target of £5,000. Donate by clicking here.
