The internet has been in tears after watching a mom’s “last celebration” at her daughter’s wedding, with more than 720,000 people watching the TikTok video shared by @leanneschapman since Tuesday.
Leanne, 29, from Essex, UK, told Newsweek, her mom Lorraine Sands, sadly lost her battle with cancer aged 55 in 2017, and she has received 89,500 likes for the video with photos of her and her mom on her big day.
Leanne Chapman, then 23, pictured on her wedding day with her late mom Lorraine Sands, then 54. The video has gone viral.
Paul Fox Photography
Leanne, who is a mom-of-two, added the following text to the video: “When you tell the photographer to capture as many pictures of you and your mum as they can – knowing this was going to be her last celebration with us all.”
Leanne tied the knot on October 21, 2016, and her mom passed away the following year on April 10.
She told Newsweek: “She was diagnosed in 2015 and she fought so hard for two years! She always had a smile on her face and never complained once. She was truly inspiring.
“My wedding day was the most magical, emotional day from start to finish, we were surrounded by family and loved ones.”
Leanne described her mom as “one of a kind” and spoke about how she has left behind her three other sisters, who miss her dearly.
She said: “My mom was so close with all of us girls, I would say she particularly loved how silly/goofy I was. I was always doing something to make her laugh, even when she was in the hospital just having had surgery! But for me, the best medicine was making her laugh and smile!
“She was the type of mum who worried about everything we did. So much so that she would wait up for us to text her when we were home after a night out even at the grand old age of 18+,” Leanne said.
“She loved us unconditionally and would do anything for us! I could literally tell her anything! She’s the first person I would call for any bit of advice she just always knew what to do and say. To me, she was literally superwoman!
“She taught me everything about being the best mum to my kids and wife to my husband. I learned it all from her, she is my role model! My mum and dad were married 29 years when she passed away.”
Leanne Chapman, then 23, with her mom Lorraine Sands, then 54, who sadly lost her battle to cancer.
Paul Fox Photography
Newsweek spoke to Sharon Jenkins, Bereavement Counsellor at Marie Curie, which is a UK-based end-of-life charity that supports people with all aspects of death, dying, and bereavement.
Sharon shared some tips on how to cope with a terminal diagnosis:
- Take time to process the information and write down any questions that you may have, it is easy to forget things that have been said or to misunderstand medical information.
- Allow yourself to talk about your wishes for death and dying. This can be helpful to make sure your family know your wishes, but it also takes some of the pressure off the family if they have to make decisions on your behalf.
- Be aware that the grieving process can begin before the person dies once they receive the terminal diagnosis as they start to deteriorate.
- Take each day as it comes, things can be up and down. Accept the bad days as bad days and not always a downward spiral, tomorrow is another day.
- Take care of yourself. Sleep when you can, eat when you can, rest when you can. Enjoy a nice bath or listen to your favorite song that makes you smile. Especially if you are involved in the care of the person, you cannot help
Hundreds of TikTokers have commented on the video and many have been reduced to tears.
One user wrote: “That bought tears to my eyes, how beautiful.”
Another said: “Your mum is so beautiful. I just know she’s always looking down on you and her gorgeous grandchildren.”
“I’m so sorry I can’t imagine the pain. Your mum is so proud of how far you have come lovely I just know she is and I’m so proud of you,” wrote another.
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