52-year-old Christine Peggrem had complained about having abdominal pain for weeks, but didn’t think it was crucial to visit her doctor. At least, not until her pain was causing her to vomit.
Her partner, Clifford Peggrem, said, “Christine was obviously ill for a long time but she ignored some of the signs of bowel cancer. She finally went to the doctor after the severity of the pain caused her to vomit…she knew something was wrong.”
At the appointment, Christine’s doctor didn’t give her a diagnosis, but just two days later, Christine had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance because the discomfort was too much.
Two weeks later, Christine was told that she had bowel cancer, and she only had weeks left to live. Her illness had progressed to the point where her doctors didn’t even think it was worthwhile to have her undergo chemotherapy treatment.
It was then that Christine and Clifford realized that their long-awaited wedding, after being together for 32 years, would have to be moved forward so they could wed before Christine passed.
A new date was set, and 17 of their closest friends and family members were invited to the sweet, intimate ceremony.
“Everyone was incredibly moved and we were both very tearful,” Clifford remembered.
“She remained incredibly strong and welcomed friends and family with a brave face. There were moments of enjoyment when we spent time together and she saw old friends but it was incredibly difficult.”
The couple’s marriage couldn’t have been better timed. Immediately afterward, Christine’s symptoms worsened again, and she became confined to her bed from that point on.
Christine passed away not too long afterward, leaving behind her an entire swath of people who would forever mourn her passing. She had not only been a dedicated, loving partner, but she’d also been an “exceptionally talented, creative and inspirational maths teacher and a wonderfully kind and caring human being. She has enriched the lives of so many young people.”
Clifford is now asking everyone else to learn from Christine’s story and go to the doctor in a timely fashion. “There's a very good lesson here not to ignore the signs of bowel cancer or try to put them down to something less serious.
“If it had been diagnosed earlier then things may have ended differently.”
The community is coming together to hold her funeral on December 1 at a local church. Our hearts go out to Clifford and everyone else who has lost this wonderful woman.
