A Perthshire woman who got married in lockdown following a terminal cancer diagnosis has sadly died less than eight months after her big day.
Kirsty Maxwell passed away this week aged 32 after tying the knot with partner Nadia Huggan during a moving ceremony in Alyth last May.
Nadia led the tributes to her wife, saying she “brightened up the room” when she entered.
The couple were forced to move their wedding forward to May 31 last year when Kirsty was diagnosed with a rare signet cell tumour in her stomach.
Nadia told The Courier: “Kirsty passed peacefully at home with her wife and family by her side.
“She was loved by so many people and touched so many people’s hearts.
“She brightened up the room when she walked in.”
Nadia remembered her wife with a phrase Kirsty would repeat that meant a lot to the couple.
“She used to always say this short little verse to me,” said Nadia.
“Never above you, never below you, always by your side.”
The couple were married in an outdoor ceremony in the Perthshire town surrounded by a small group of close family and friends, with Nadia wearing a white dress and Kirsty dressed in a tartan suit.
Friends of Kirsty also paid tribute her online, with Stuart Robb saying: “Can’t put into words how much I’m going to miss my absolute rock of a best friend.
“Love you Kirsty Maxwell always and forever.”
The Alyth couple set up a GoFund Me account last year to help pay for Kirsty’s funeral costs with Kirsty describing the situation as “surreal”.
VIDEO: Alyth woman, 31, brings forward wedding and plans own funeral after terminal cancer diagnosis
Speaking in May 2020, Kirsty said: “I’m just zoned in on getting it all sorted so it’s not left for my family to deal with.
“I’ll also be able to have things the way I want but all the stressful things will have been done.
“I’m lucky in the sense that I have the opportunity to have a few months – it could have just happened and I wouldn’t have the chance to do all the things I wanted to do.”
The fundraiser has now ended with Nadia thanking everyone who helped them raise over £7,500.
“We managed to meet her target and pay for it all,” said Nadia.
“We want to thank everyone who donated.”
