Wedding joy has turned to heartbreak, after a young Fife bride lost her courageous fight for life only weeks after her big day.
Two years ago, Rosyth travel consultant Mandi Callander was over the moon when her long-term boyfriend, Paul, popped the question. But their happiness turned to sorrow when the 22-year-old was diagnosed with leukaemia only a month later.
Despite treatment including a bone marrow transplant from her loving sister, Siobhan Mandi died from her illness last week, less than a month after the couple tied the knot.
Devastated Paul paid tribute to his young bride, saying: ”She was constantly happy, right to the end. She very rarely complained.”
Mandi started to feel unwell on Hogmanay 2010, with swollen glands and a temperature. But the plucky young woman ignored her symptoms when Paul proposed that night.
When the symptoms didn’t disappear, Mandi paid a visit to her doctor who tested her for glandular fever. But on February 3, Mandi received the devastating news that she had acute myeloid leukaemia.
Her treatment started immediately and involved twice-daily chemotherapy sessions during a 10-day spell at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy and radiotherapy at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.
She had her hair cut short, then shaved her head completely when it started falling out. On March 28 that year, she was discharged for four hours to celebrate her 21st birthday.
But then she returned to continue her treatment and, despite the gruelling chemotherapy, the cancer refused to subside.
The couple remained determined to get married and set a wedding date.
Paul said: ”When we were told she was going to hospital, she didn’t want to get married without her hair. Thirty-six hours later, the wedding plans were finalised.”
The couple tied the knot at Dunfermline City Chambers on December 17 a day Mandi described as the best of her life before enjoying a reception in a local hotel and honeymoon at the Millennium Hotel in Glasgow.
But only days later she was back in Victoria Hospital where she slipped away, surrounded by her family and friends, on January 12.
Siobhan (26) said: ”She said her wedding was the best day of her life. People can’t believe that someone so happy, bubbly and carefree has gone at just 22. We all feel at a loss without her.
”She loved to socialise and loved cats. She was such a fun person to have around and we all miss her very much.”
Mandi’s funeral was held on Friday at St John’s and St Columba’s RC Church in Rosyth, attended by her close friends and family, including her parents Catriona and Ross O’Connor, brother Christopher and sister Teresa.
Catriona said: ”Mandi is the one I couldn’t go a day in my life without seeing. She was very much mum and dad’s little girl.”
Dad Ross said Mandi loved bright colours and had even delayed a hospital appointment to have her nails done.
He added: ”That was her to a tee. Anything pink and furry or anything in leopard-print was her favourite. So, at the funeral there might be some leopard-print and pinks.”
In a heartfelt Facebook message to Mandi this week, Paul said: ”It’s starting to feel real that I will never hold you in my arms again or see your beautiful smile or hear your voice. I love and miss you so much xxxxxxxxx.”